Israel

• Launch capability
• Military space programs 
• Arms control

Israel and the United States have developed Israel's Arrow missile defense system through joint cooperation and shared funding that began in 1988.[1] The Arrow system is designed to protect Israel from short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase (after they have passed through space and are re-entering the atmosphere).[2] The first fully operational Arrow system was deployed in October 2002 near Tel Aviv.[1] The United States continues to assist Israel with improvements and upgrades to the Arrow system, including anti-ballistic missile system interception tests that were successfully completed under the Arrow System Improvement Program (ASIP) at Point Mugu, California, in July and August, 2004.[3,4]

Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), which is the prime contractor for the Arrow system, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MBDA (Europe's leading guided missile company) in July 2004.[5] Under the agreement, the two companies will "evaluate mutually reinforcing technologies and experience in order to support future ballistic missile interceptor system concepts."[5] The CEO of IAI cited the need to develop new ways to combat expected advanced-capability ballistic missiles as the reason for the cooperation.[5]

It was also reported in March 2005 that IAI plans to sell Arrow-2 technology to India in the future, although no specific timeframe was given.[6] According to the Israeli Defense Ministry, India is the largest consumer of Israeli-manufactured weapons.[6]

According to Haim Eshed, the head of space programs at the Israeli Defense Ministry, Israel's initial investment in its space program was driven by strategic considerations, especially the ability to observe the activities of other states without violating international law.[7,8] It is for this reason that the primary focus of Israel's space efforts has been and continues to be the development of high-resolution imaging capabilities.[8]

The Israel Space Agency (ISA) was established in 1983 under the Ministry of Science.[7] The ISA received initial funding from a special budget set up through the Defense Ministry.[9] In September 1988, Israel became the ninth country to launch a satellite, after a Shavit launch vehicle successfully orbited the Ofek-1.

These pages draw on material developed by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. These pages are currently being updated by Katherine Amlin and Lindsay Kreslake, under the supervision of Dr. James Clay Moltz. Past contributors to the site have included Caitlin Baczuk, Josh Levinger, Charlotte Savidge, Rebecca Schauer, Nathan Voegeli and Adam Williams.

Footnotes

[1] Stephen G. Rademaker, Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Remarks to the American Foreign Policy Council's 2004 Conference on "Missile Defenses and American Security" - "U.S. Pursues Cooperative Approach to a Limited Missile Defense," U.S. State Department website, December 17, 2004, http://usinfo.state.gov/eap/Archive/2004/Dec/20-761571.html?chanlid=eap.

[2] "Terminal Phase Defense," U.S. Missile Defense Agency website, http://www.acq.osd.mil/mda/mdalink/html/terminal.html.

[3] "Arrow Anti-Ballistic Missile System Completes Successful Interception at Point Mugu in a Joint U.S.-Israel Test Program," Israel Aircraft Industries website, July 29, 2004, http://www.iai.co.il/site/en/iai.asp?pi=23048&doc_id=32551.

[4] Arrow Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems' Second Test at Point Mugu, U.S.," Israel Aircraft Industries website, August 29, 2004, http://www.iai.co.il/site/en/iai.asp?pi=23048&doc_id=32850.  

[5] "MBDA, IAI Sign Missile Defense Accord," Israel Aircraft Industries website, July 22, 2004, http://www.iai.co.il/site/en/iai.asp?pi=23048&doc_id=32390.

[6] Report -- India, Israel Expected to Strike 'Several More Deals' in Defense Sector," New Dehli Force, March 11, 2005, FBIS Document SAP20050311000078.

[7] Amnon Barzilay, "Advanced Military Satellites Unveiled," Ha'aretz on-line edition, August 3, 2003; in "Space Program Director: Israel Develops 3 Intelligence Satellites Simultaneously," FBIS Document GMP20030803000069.

[8] Amnon Barzilay, "Shavit's Ofek launch proves it can lift satellites—and weapons—say experts," Haaretz on-line edition, April 5, 2004.

[9] Arieh O'Sullivan, "Israel Air Force Changes its Name," Jerusalem Post, January 1, 2004; in "Israeli Air Force 'Unofficially' Changes Name To Israel Air And Space Force'," FBIS Document GMP20040130000052.