BICOM

Israel’s Arrow missile defence system could intercept salvos of Iranian long-range missiles, Arieh Herzog, who recently stepped down as head of the Defence Ministry’s Homa Missile Defence Agency, told the Jerusalem Post.

While there “is no such thing as 100 per cent defence,” the Arrow was fully operational and capable of providing an adequate defence against Iran’s Shihab and Sajil ballistic missiles, Herzog said. “The Iranians have the ability to launch barrages and that is an important part of their capabilities,” he said. “But we are prepared and have the ability to intercept those barrages if they are launched.”

Israel has two operational Arrow missile batteries, one deployed in the North and one in the South, and is establishing a third battery that is expected to achieve initial operational capability in the coming months. It is also developing the Arrow 3, which will undergo interception tests later this year.

In the event that the Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear facilities, the assumption within the IDF is that Israel will come under heavy missile fire from Iran, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. The Arrow missile batteries will play a critical role in protecting Israel’s population centres from long-range missiles.