The Arrow-4 air defense system is an upgrade to the current Arrow-3 and Arrow-2 models, and “will focus on shorter-range threats with improved targeting precision,” according to the CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries, Boaz Levy
07:57 ET, 18 Jul 2025Updated 09:28 ET, 18 Jul 2025
Israeli air defenses intercept Iranian missile barrages(Image: SOPA Images, SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Israel has announced the development of a cutting-edge missile interceptor, poised to take down hypersonic missiles traveling at speeds exceeding 4,000mph. The Arrow-4 air defense system, which is an enhancement over the existing Arrow-3 and Arrow-2 models, “will focus on shorter-range threats with improved targeting precision,” as stated by Boaz Levy, CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries.
While no specific deployment date has been disclosed, it’s believed to be ‘imminent’, especially following recent events where Iran launched missile attacks on Israeli cities, resulting in 28 civilian deaths, one off-duty soldier fatality, and 3,238 hospitalizations, reports the Times of Israel.
The conflict between the two Middle Eastern countries, which erupted on June 13, saw Israel initiating strikes on Tehran, driven by the now-disproven belief that Iran was nearing nuclear weapon capability. Analysis of Israel’s Arrow defenses, along with other systems like the Iron Dome, indicates they intercepted 85% of Iran’s missiles, keeping successful hits to approximately 50 rockets.
In contrast, US-based Human Rights Activists have reported that Israeli actions resulted in 900 fatalities and over 3,000 injuries in Iran. The Arrow-4 is set to be integrated with these current defense mechanisms, with full incorporation into the Israeli military expected to take about two years.
Israel will begin to roll out its latest air defense system.(Image: Getty)
The system has been designed based on the ‘shoot-look-shoot’ operational theory, which means it can change its trajectory after launch to target specific objectives with its enhanced seeking system and warhead technology. This additional layer of protection could deter some of the nation’s most advanced missile threats by potentially neutralizing hypersonic speed threats, reports the Express.
Hypersonic missiles are a type of advanced weaponry that travels at speeds surpassing Mach 5, five times the speed of sound. The increased maneuverability and high speeds of these weapons make them more difficult for enemy defenses to intercept, thus posing a higher likelihood of hitting targets.
Iran and Israel traded hundreds of missile launches during the conflict(Image: Getty)
Only a few countries are thought to possess this technology, with Iran claiming to be one of them and stating they successfully deployed their Fattah missile against Israel during the conflict in June.
The United States, Russia, and China are known to have hypersonic missiles, while India and North Korea have claimed to have conducted hypersonic tests. The UK and Australia, in collaboration with the US, are currently developing these weapons.
Despite this latest advancement, Israel has confirmed that the Arrow-5 upgraded system is in the works, set to eventually replace the Arrow-3 model.
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