Israel recently conducted a test of the "Arrow" anti-missile system, and an "Arrow-2" interceptor successfully intercepted a "Sparrow" missile.
The "Arrow" anti-missile system has been in service in Israel for decades, and the "Arrow-3" is the latest model. As the world's first experimental and actual deployment of a high-level anti-tactical ballistic missile special surface-to-air missile weapon system, every "action" of it will attract widespread attention. In addition, another focus of the network's attention this time is "the United States provided it with financial and technical support."
So, what is the general composition of Israel's anti-missile system? What is the performance of the "Arrow" anti-missile system? How does Israel and the United States cooperate in the field of anti-missile defense? In response to these issues, a reporter from Science and Technology Daily interviewed relevant experts.
Established a three-level anti-missile system
"The'Arrow' anti-missile system is a terminal high-altitude anti-missile system with the functional positioning of the US' THAAD. It is a core shield designed by Israel to intercept medium-range tactical ballistic missiles at high altitude near the end of the atmosphere." Expert Yuan Zhou Kepu said.
As a country with the world's first experimental and actual deployment of a high-level anti-tactical ballistic missile special surface-to-air missile weapon system, Israel's determination and rapid progress in building an anti-missile system are unimaginable by other countries.
Yuan Zhou introduced that the formation of this situation is based on the lessons of history. During the Gulf War in 1991, Iraq launched 39 short-range ground-to-ground "Sud" ballistic missiles to Tel Aviv, Israel, causing many Israeli personnel to be injured. , Sounded a wake-up call to Israel. Although the "Patriot" air defense missile system deployed by the United States in Israel has intercepted and achieved certain results, Israel believes that it has insufficient reserves and is subject to problems, and must develop its own air defense and missile defense system.
"The other hand is the real threat. Israel believes that the near and medium-range ballistic missiles from Syria and Iran, and rockets from Gaza are serious threats to Israel," said Yuan Zhou. In order to protect its own security, Israel, which has been on the cusp for a long time, was forced to make great efforts to build an anti-missile defense system. This also makes the anti-missile system of this type have already begun actual combat deployment during the experimental phase.
Real threats have made Israel accelerate the research process of the "Arrow" anti-missile system.
"Israel first launched the'Arrow Missile Continuous Experiment Program' and successively developed the'Arrow-1' and'Arrow-2' systems. After 7 flight tests, Israel officially launched the'Arrow Missile Deployment' in March 2000. "Plan", began to deploy the "Arrow-2" theater ballistic missile defense system. Since then, Israel has been continuously conducting flight tests on the "Arrow-2" and has developed several improved models from Block-2 to Block-5. Here Based on this, Israel has developed the'Arrow-3'." Yuan Zhou said.
The reporter learned that the main targets of Israel’s anti-missile defense system are the short-range "Katyusha" rockets used by Hezbollah armed groups in Gaza and the homemade "Kazan" rockets used by Hamas armed groups; from Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Syria’s medium- and short-range missiles; medium- and long-range tactical ballistic missiles launched from Iran and other potential enemy countries and regions with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers.
Therefore, Israel has established a three-level anti-missile system based on the types and types of missile threats it faces. Yuan Zhou introduced: "The lowest level is the'Iron Dome' system responsible for intercepting short-range rockets, the middle level is the'David Slingshot' system responsible for intercepting mid- and short-range missiles, and the highest level is responsible for intercepting mid-range missiles with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers. The'arrow' anti-missile system for long-range tactical ballistic missiles."
Continuous improvement of "Arrow" anti-missile
As the latest model of the "Arrow" anti-missile system, every development of the "Arrow-3" is eye-catching. In December 2015, the interception test of the "Arrow-3" anti-missile system was successful for the first time. In January 2017, the "Arrow-3" anti-missile system was put into use. At the end of July 2019, because some of its performance could not be verified locally, the "Arrow-3" anti-missile system was transported to Alaska, USA, where it successfully completed the live ammunition interception test of extra-atmospheric targets, verifying the system's ability to intercept extra-atmospheric targets ...
Yuan Zhou introduced that compared to the "Jian-2", the "Jian-3" has better maneuverability, has better high acceleration and maneuverability, and has a higher interception height, which can be intercepted outside the atmosphere. Its interceptor has a maximum flight speed of 9 times the speed of sound, making it the fastest flying air defense missile in the world. Its interception distance is longer, twice that of the "Jiang-2", and its interception range is larger, reaching more than 400 kilometers. At the same time, due to the use of the same kinetic energy kill mode as the "THAAD" principle and technology, the "Arrow-3" has higher killing and interception efficiency and stronger interception capabilities.
"Jian-3" was developed on the basis of "Jian-2". Without the early technical accumulation of "Jian-1" and "Jian-2", there would be no breakthrough development of "Jian-3".
Yuan Zhou said that the "Arrow-2" interception distance is relatively short, the interception altitude is low, the maximum interception distance is only 100 kilometers, and the interception altitude is only 8-50 kilometers; and the same is the "THAAD" system of the high-altitude terminal anti-missile system, with a range It can reach 300 kilometers and the intercept height is 40-180 kilometers. "Arrow-2" is at best a high-altitude interception system in the atmosphere. The interception range is short and the altitude is low, which means that its interception window is small and the interception probability is low. It is especially difficult to deal with the medium and long-range with a range of more than 2000 kilometers and an ultra-fast reentry speed. Ballistic missiles. In addition, the "Jiang-2" interceptor missile uses a killing and interception mechanism assisted by directional fragments and direct collisions. Fragmentation is more effective against aircraft targets, but the effect of high-speed reentry warheads using reinforcement technology is very poor. If the interceptor cannot directly collide and kill the incoming warhead accurately, but only collide with the incoming warhead through scattered missile fragments, it will definitely be difficult to destroy the target warhead, causing the interception to fail.
"Therefore,'Jiang-3' has made breakthrough improvements mainly in terms of interception distance and capability. Compared to'Jiang-2','Jiang-3' has significantly higher interception height, longer interception distance, and interception ability. Stronger, not only can intercept medium-range tactical ballistic missiles, but also have a certain ability to intercept long-range strategic missiles." Yuan Zhou said.
The product of deep cooperation between the United States and Israel
Foreign media reported that Israel and the United States have close cooperation in the field of national defense. It is said that the US Missile Defense Organization has provided a large amount of funding and technical support for the "Arrow" anti-missile system. Many components of the system are also manufactured by Boeing.
Public information shows that Israel's "arrow" anti-missile system is a product of the special relationship between the United States and Israel. Initially, the two countries jointly invested in the research and development of "Arrow" missiles. The combat targets were the "Sud" and other short-range ballistic missiles equipped by Arab countries around Israel at that time. The "Arrow-2" anti-missile system was originally planned to intercept short-range ballistic missiles at an altitude of about 30 kilometers. However, in the face of the increasing threat of medium-range ballistic missiles, the United States has helped Israel increase the interception height of the "Arrow-2" anti-missile system to 50 kilometers, and eliminate as much as possible the debris generated during the interception, explosions, biochemical and other dangerous warheads. It can also effectively intercept ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads outside the atmosphere.
Yuan Zhou said that in the field of anti-missile technology, Israel and the United States have very close cooperation. There are three main forms of cooperation: financial support, technology sharing, and joint research and development. For example, the total investment of "Arrow-2" reached 536 million U.S. dollars, Israel only bears 64% of the development costs, and the rest is funded by the United States. Judging from public information, the US investment in Israel’s anti-missile system has far exceeded US$200 million. Israel’s anti-missile system uses many American anti-missile technologies. For example, the "David Slingshot" system draws on the "Patriot-3" anti-missile system, while the "Arrow" anti-missile system can basically be regarded as Israel’s Germany". When Israel was developing an anti-missile system, many flight tests were conducted jointly with the United States. Not only did the two sides jointly use the test site, but also the test data were shared.
Yuan Zhou pointed out that due to the in-depth cooperation between Israel and the United States on anti-missile issues, especially the actual deployment of "Arrow-3", Israel can effectively detect Iran’s missile activities and counteract the "Patriots" deployed by the United States in the Middle East. The guidance system provides early warning information.
Our reporter Zhang Qiang