Israel, US Successfully Test 'Arrow 2' Missile Defense System

Israel is developing a multi-layered anti-ballistic missile system to protect themselves from rockets fired from neighboring countries. Above, Arrow 3 missle launched by the Israeli Defence Ministry in 2015. (AFP)
Israel is developing a multi-layered anti-ballistic missile system to protect themselves from rockets fired from neighboring countries. Above, Arrow 3 missle launched by the Israeli Defence Ministry in 2015. (AFP)
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Israel, US Successfully Test 'Arrow 2' Missile Defense System

Israel is developing a multi-layered anti-ballistic missile system to protect themselves from rockets fired from neighboring countries. Above, Arrow 3 missle launched by the Israeli Defence Ministry in 2015. (AFP)
Israel is developing a multi-layered anti-ballistic missile system to protect themselves from rockets fired from neighboring countries. Above, Arrow 3 missle launched by the Israeli Defence Ministry in 2015. (AFP)

Israel said Thursday it conducted a successful test of the country’s advanced missile defense system against long-range ballistic attacks.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz said the successful flight test of the Arrow-2 interceptor was part of a technological effort that "ensures that we will always be one step ahead of our enemies.”

The test was conducted overnight jointly with the US Missile Defense Agency.

Arrow-2 is part of the multi-layered system Israel has developed to defend against both short- and mid-range rockets fired from Gaza and Lebanon, as well as Iran’s long-range missiles, The Associated Press reported.

It includes Iron Dome, David’s Sling and the Arrow-3 system — capable of defending against threats from outside the atmosphere.

Israel and the US jointly tested Arrow-3 successfully last year in Alaska. The system was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and US aviation giant Boeing and became operational in January 2017.

The Arrow-2 has been in use even longer and has been deployed in recent years to counter Syrian missiles.

The Arrow rocket system is designed to intercept the longest-range missiles, including outside the atmosphere.

Moshe Patel, who heads the Defense Ministry's missile defense organization, said Iran was the most natural threat but that Arrow could also cope with attacks from Iraq, Syria and elsewhere.



Spanish Foreign Minister Calls for Weapons Embargo on Israel 

Palestinians gather to receive aid supplies in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, June 16, 2025. (Reuters) 
Palestinians gather to receive aid supplies in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, June 16, 2025. (Reuters) 
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Spanish Foreign Minister Calls for Weapons Embargo on Israel 

Palestinians gather to receive aid supplies in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, June 16, 2025. (Reuters) 
Palestinians gather to receive aid supplies in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, June 16, 2025. (Reuters) 

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called on Tuesday for a weapons embargo on Israel while the war in Gaza lasts and urged the resumption of talks on Iran's nuclear program.

"We are the largest trade partner of Israel in the world, the European Union," he said on Bloomberg TV. "We must impose, for our European partners, an arms embargo, not to sell weapons to Israel as long as this war continues."

He said he wanted the EU to act as it did after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 to try to achieve peace.

The minister regretted there were no signs of de-escalation between Israel and Iran and called for a resumption of dialogue with Iran on its nuclear program.