U.S., Israel Conduct Joint Test of Interceptor Missile System

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2014 - The joint testing of an improved interceptor missile system designed to counter future missile threats went as planned, Defense Department spokesman Army Col. Steven Warren told Pentagon reporters today.

"The Israel Missile Defense Organization of the Directorate of Defense Research and Development, and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, conducted an intercept test of the Arrow-2 interceptor missile today," he said.

"The Arrow-2 is an operational system currently providing the Arrow Weapon System with an interceptor engagement capability," Warren said.

Israel, the first allied nation to declare its intent to field a missile defense system as a national priority, has collaborated in the past with the MDA on similar testing of capabilities.

This test was conducted at an Israeli test range over the Mediterranean Sea, the colonel said, explaining the testing process.

"An Arrow-2 missile was launched and performed its flight sequence as planned," Warren said. "The results are being analyzed by program engineers."

"The test results have no effect on the Israeli operational system capability to cope with the existing threats in the region," he said.

This test, Warren noted, was an improved version of the joint U.S.-Israel Arrow Weapon System, intended to counter future threats.

(Follow Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone Marshall on Twitter: @MarshallDoDNews)