Israel's 'Star Wars' Missile Defense System Begins Operations

Israel's new missile defense system became operational on Wednesday, January 18. This new system, referred to as 'Star Wars', allows Israel to destroy missiles fired at the country outside the atmosphere and at greater distances. According to Reuters, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that the 'Arrow 3' missile defense system, most of whose costs were covered by the United States, is a joint product of Israel's state-owned aerospace industries and the American company Boeing. This system has been delivered to the Israeli Air Force. In a part of its statement, the Israeli Ministry of Defense said: 'The Arrow 3 system, along with Arrow 2, which became operational in 2000, will significantly reduce the likelihood of ballistic missiles hitting Israeli territory.' The Arrow 2 system is designed to target missiles at both high and low altitudes. However, the missiles of the Arrow 3 system are launched into space, and after tracking their targets, their warheads detach and approach the target via satellite movement, striking it in a 'kamikaze' manner. Targeting long-range missiles at such high altitudes, even if they are equipped with nuclear, chemical, or biological warheads, provides a high degree of reliability and security. The Israeli government has always expressed concern about the threat of ballistic missile launches from Iran. The United States also has a space-based ballistic missile tracking and destruction system. The Associated Press also notes that the missiles of the 'Arrow 3' system are designed to track enemy missiles closer to their launch sites and target them outside the Earth's atmosphere. 'Arrow 3' is part of a multi-layered missile defense system that Israel has developed to protect itself against various missile attacks, from short-range missiles that may be fired from Gaza or southern Lebanon to ballistic missiles. In the 2014 Gaza war, the lower layers of this missile defense system, known as the 'Iron Dome', were heavily utilized against rockets fired by Hamas forces. In this context, the finalization of the $38 billion military aid package from the U.S. to Israel has occurred. Israel has also used the 'Iron Dome' for the first time at the Syrian border.