Today, July 22, at 12:45pm (PDT), the Arrow Weapon System (AWS) conducted an interception test at a missile test range in the United States. This test is a part of the Arrow System Improvement Program, jointly conducted by Israel and the United States. The test also exercised the Arrow Weapon System interoperability with other elements of the U. S. Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), including the Terminal High Altitude Area (THAAD) Program, the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Program and the Patriot (PAC-3) Program.

The target missile was dropped from a C-17 aircraft and represented a future ballistic missile threat. The radar detected the target and transferred its tracks to the battle management control center. The AWS and the BMDS elements exchanged data in real-time on the target. Not all test conditions to launch the Arrow Interceptor were met, and it was not launched. Interoperability objectives, including a simulated intercept by the Aegis destroyer, USS Benfold (DDG 65), were achieved. Results are being analyzed by the program engineers.

The Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) and US Department of Defense representatives participated in the test, as well as all the industries in charge of the system development.