The Arrow missile interceptor system is an attractive option for the U.S. because it is available now and would offer a layered defense against different types of missile attacks.
Missile firing unit
2
Battle management and control
Analyzes threat’s trajectory and determines expected impact point
Israel also is developing the Arrow
5, reportedly an upgrade to the Arrow 3 that will be capable of increasing the area it can defend by 50%. The Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 were
highly effective in protecting Israel against two massive missile attacks by Iran in April and October 2024. After Iran fired 180 ballistic missiles
against Israel in October, Israel Aero- space Industries CEO Boaz Levy said the Arrow system “performed as expect- ed” and produced “wonderful” results. According to press reports, the Arrow intercepted at a staggering 99% rate. In 2019, the U.S. and Israel per-
formed three tests of Arrow 3 inter- ceptors at the Kodiak Island, Alas- ka, spaceport. According to a June 28, 2019, Defense News report, the Arrow 3 interceptors “successfully took out target missiles in high-alti- tude, hit-to-kill test engagements.” The Arrow missile interceptor sys-
tem is an attractive option for the U.S. because it is available now and would offer a layered defense against different types of missile attacks. Moreover, because Arrow incep-
tors are launched from mobile launchers, it would be a flexible
defense that could be easily redeployed to defend the U.S. home- land against shifting missile threats from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, as well as from ICBMs and cruise and hypersonic missiles. In addition, com-
pared with two compet- ing long-range missile defense systems, the
Arrow system has greater range and is far less expensive. For example, the Arrow 3 has a
range of 1,500 miles and an average cost per missile of $2.5 million. Raytheon’s SM3 is 10 times more expensive and has half the range of the Arrow 3. Lockheed’s THAAD system is five times more expensive and less than one-tenth the range. Deploying Arrow 2 and Arrow 3
missile interceptors could begin this year and be built in the U.S. within two to three years. In fact, a signifi- cant portion of the manufacturing for this Israeli missile defense system is already being built in the U.S. This means Trump could deploy
a robust missile shield in only three years.
This plan would be consistent
with his call for a new missile defense system to be built in the U.S. Indeed, the Arrow system was heavily funded by the U.S., which contributed over $3.7 billion to develop it. The Arrow system is already scheduled for deployment soon in Europe, with Germany having recently purchased this system. At the same time, it is crucial that
the U.S. also invest in a next-gener- ation Golden Dome missile shield that could be deployed in the next decade.
Trump’s leadership could clear
the obstacles, waste, and red tape in military procurement, allowing this vital project to begin immediately and put the U.S. on track to deploy the world’s most advanced missile defense system by 2035 or earlier. Meanwhile, it’s time to deploy
the most-proven system in the world right now. Trump is right that we now have
the technology to defend the U.S. homeland against growing cata- strophic threats from missile attacks. By deploying the advanced Arrow
missile interceptor system that the U.S. spent billions to develop, Trump can start defending our nation against missile attacks now and have a fully deployed robust missile shield before he leaves office. The Trump administration should
also simultaneously launch a major project to develop a next-generation Golden Dome missile defense system that will protect our nation starting in the next decade and for many years to come. Deploying the Arrow System now
and investing in the Golden Dome system for the future would fulfill Trump’s campaign promise to make America safe again. Implementing this initiative as soon as possible is crucial to countering the growing mis- sile threats to the U.S. homeland.
Fred Fleitz previously served as National Security Council chief of staff, a CIA analyst, and House Intelligence Committee staff member.
JUNE 2025 | NEWSMAX 39
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