The CEO of IAI tells what it’s like to intercept an Iranian missile in space
In October, already at 8:30 a.m. on Black Shabbat, the management of the aerospace industry held a telephone meeting, in which we prepared for maximum support for the IDF. Since then, we have been working three shifts a day, without a break. When we were able to intercept in space, a missile that was launched to Eilat from Yemen, there was a feeling of “we did something here which no one in the world has done yet.”
So says Boaz Levy, CEO of Israel’s aerospace industry.
About the Arrow missiles, Levy says: Israel is the only country in the world that has developed an operational weapon of this type – Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 did an amazing job and intercepted an improved Iranian Shaib 3 missile, which the Houthis launched from Yemen to Eilat. The technological breakthrough in Arrow 3 makes it possible to intercept the attacking missile with precision and at high altitude, outside the atmosphere. I have no doubt that our enemies were impressed by the engineering-operational capability that Israel has, and they are now looking for new ways to attack us, but we are trying to be one step ahead of our enemy in this chess game.
We knew about the interception of the missile to Eilat a few seconds after. We were proud that a product designed and developed in the aerospace industry saved a city from an attack.
If such a ballistic missile, which carries a large warhead, hits a population concentration, it causes enormous damage to human life and property. When we managed to intercept it in space, there was a feeling of “we did something here that no one in the world has done before”.
The Houthis need to understand that there is no defense without attack. The fact that Arrow 3 optimally stopped their attacking missile means that we also have systems that know how to attack whoever launched this missile. They need to factor that into the equation.
On Hezbollah: there is no threat that there is nothing to do about it, the only question is how much resources you are willing to invest in it. The defense industries in Israel have the technological depth to bring solutions also against the missile threats from the northern sector.
On the minds that didn’t run away: I see the success of the aerospace industry in recruiting the best minds as a national and personal achievement. We employ approximately 15,000 employees, half of whom are engineers and a quarter of those engineers hold advanced degrees. It is a very high-quality concentration of minds, which allows us to compete at the forefront of technology.
What is the dart missile:
The Arrow system is a weapon system to intercept ballistic missiles which was developed by the Melam plant of the Israel Aerospace Industries in Israel with the aid of American funding and in cooperation with the American Boeing Company.
The system operates two types of interceptors, Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 (and in the future also Arrow 4 and Arrow 5), and consists of an anti-aircraft fire control and fire control system, “Gold Etrog”, a launcher control center, “Brown Walnut” and unique radars – “Oran Yerok” and “Mighty pine”.
The system has been operational in the Israeli Air Force since October 2000, and is operated in the IDF by the “Defensive Sword” unit subordinate to the air defense system, which provides Israel with the multi-layered defense system against long-range fire.
The importance of missile development, beyond achieving protection against ballistic missiles –
It points to the impressive technological superiority of Israel, which is the only country in the world that has developed an operational weapon of this type. about the technological progress achieved by Israel following the development of missiles, guidance systems and radars, and which can be applied to other fields, conveys a message to the countries hostile to Israel in the development of this strategic weapon, and fosters the system of connections forged with the United States.
and the motivation of many countries – to buy technological systems in Israel.
