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Israel is mulling a U.S. alternative to the Arrow anti-missile, shown during a test launch. (Archive)
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Last update - 10:30 02/01/2007
Israel may opt for U.S.-made missile over own Arrow system
By Shmuel Rosner and Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondents

In recent months Israel and the United States have discussed the possibility of an Israel acquiring the American-made missile defense system THAAD, instead of developing a new generation of the indigenous Arrow defense missile.

Israeli decision-makers will have to make up their minds in the coming year whether to commit to acquiring the American weapon system or invest in the development of a more advanced Arrow.

The American THAAD (Theater High-Altitude Area Defense), developed more than a decade ago, and whose mission is similar to that of the Arrow, failed in initial testing and the timetable for the completion of its development has been delayed on a number of occasions. However, in 2006 the system passed a number of critical tests, including the interception of targets simulating enemy missiles.
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The system includes components and technologies that are not part of the current generation of the Arrow, which is in operational service with the Israel Air Force.

The United States will be able to provide Israel with THAAD missiles by 2009, at which time the maker of the system, Lockheed Martin, will have completed development and testing, Washington sources say.

The same sources added that Israel will be able to purchase THAAD with American military funding assistance, and have in its arsenal the same advanced missile system that will be used by U.S. armed forces.

However, the American missile system still suffers from a number of technological bugs that have not yet been resolved.

The discussions over the acquisition of the missile were held on the professional level, among experts in missile defense technologies. The final decision will be made by the political echelons.

American sources said that Israel's decision will have to be made "fairly soon."

Israel's dilemma revolves around both the costs of continuing the development of the Arrow system and issues of technological and operational independence.

When Ehud Barak was chief of staff, he opposed the development of the Arrow and the creation of the "Homa" anti-ballistic defense system, arguing that the cost of independent development was too high and that it would be wiser to acquire THAAD.

Rabin decided otherwise

Prime minister Yitzhak Rabin decided otherwise, explaining that the Americans would only agree to transfer to Israel the advanced technologies included in THAAD if they are convinced that it can develop its own independent capabilities and compete with the American industry.

Funding for the development and production of the Arrow came mostly from American aid sources.

Some of the components of the missile are produced in the Boeing plants in Mississippi and Alabama, in cooperation with the prime contractor in the Arrow project, Israel Aircraft Industries.

In recent years, Congress voted in favor of significantly higher financial contributions to the Arrow project than originally requested by the administration.

Production of the Arrow is continuing as planned, and preparations have been completed for holding another test in the near future.

At this stage there has been no significant effort to export the Arrow. In any case, American involvement in the Arrow's development limits Israel's ability to offer the system to various countries.

The presence of American technology in the missile allows the Defense Department to veto the transfer of technology to third countries.

To date, the U.S. has opposed efforts to export the Arrow to India, which expressed interest in the defensive system, and to other countries.

This opposition means that Israel has less available funding for the independent development of next generation Arrow missiles.
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  1.   Develop the Arrow 04:31  |  Robert 02/01/07
  2.   Forget THAAD "delivered by 2009" promises 04:45  |  Dr. L. Brnd 02/01/07
  3.   none of those will work against the 04:50  |  shia 4 ever 02/01/07
  4.   The weakness of Israel 05:27  |  Shiloh 02/01/07
  5.   The Saab Bofors Dynamics Bamse 05:32  |  Johnny 02/01/07
  6.   Arrow vs THAAD 05:39  |  Jorge 02/01/07
  7.   Cutting through the fuzz 06:06  |  Natallie Durson 02/01/07
  8.   Stick with the arrow...End of story 06:10  |  rich 02/01/07
  9.   rabin right. we must develop our own..remember de gaul..warsaw ge 06:32  |  ralph 02/01/07
  10.   missile "defense" is a dangerous illusion 06:32  |  spyguy 02/01/07
  11.   Oh boy, #7 and expert on ABM and mezuzas! 06:34  |  PPM 02/01/07
  12.   The Arrow 06:56  |  Avi 02/01/07
  13.   Re to #7 07:24  |  Kipperraes 02/01/07
  14.   #12 - "quite successful" is NOT 100% 07:26  |  spyguy 02/01/07
  15.   Critical decision in the hands of Israel`s traitors 07:52  |  dave 02/01/07
  16.   Anything US weakens Israel 07:54  |  BradL 02/01/07
  17.   Missile defense is a good idea but offensive investment is better 08:04  |  Marwan مروان خوري 02/01/07
  18.   all things being equal, and they never are 08:05  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/01/07
  19.   #14, spyguy 08:08  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/01/07
  20.   # 16...without the U.S. we would not have survived. 08:14  |  Sarit 02/01/07
  21.   Never mind post #5 08:23  |  Johnny 02/01/07
  22.   #17Marwan-Missile defense is necessary from distant enemies,Iran 09:02  |  Susanna/Shoshanah 02/01/07
  23.   The decision making 09:03  |  S 02/01/07
  24.   The most disturbing line in this article 09:06  |  Raymond from DC 02/01/07
  25.   #17 Iran has heard your message 09:10  |  spyguy 02/01/07
  26.   nuclear bombs and missiles for both Arabs and Jews 09:11  |  American diplomat 02/01/07
  27.   I agree with most of the posters,develop the Arrow 09:13  |  Susanna/Shoshanah 02/01/07
  28.   #14, Since in my opinion you can`t negotiate with extermists... 09:18  |  Avi 02/01/07
  29.   #19 I know of no published Arrow results 09:32  |  spyguy 02/01/07
  30.   johnny - sweden made missile 09:40  |  oleh chadash 02/01/07
  31.   #29, spuyguy 09:50  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/01/07
  32.   Strength can`t be bought....its INDEpENDENCE!!!!!!!!! 10:02  |  Jerry 02/01/07
  33.   #29spyguy,from my experience technology is very good 10:15  |  Susanna/Shoshanah 02/01/07
  34.   How would Arrow defend against this? 10:35  |  spyguy 02/01/07
  35.   Useless weapons, but nice little earners 10:37  |  Clickfool 02/01/07
  36.   #29spyguy,in #25 you say Iran vastly improved Chines and Russsian 10:38  |  Susanna/Shoshanah 02/01/07
  37.   #31,Cipora-don`t trust spuyguy-I don`t 10:42  |  Susanna/Shoshanah 02/01/07
  38.   to # 29 Cipora Julianna Kohn. The effectiveness of Arrow should 10:46  |  Vittorio 02/01/07
  39.   #25,spyguy-if Israel doesn`t depend on better weapons then what? 10:47  |  Susanna/Shoshanah 02/01/07
  40.   #32 Shoshanah your faith is misplaced 10:57  |  spyguy 02/01/07
  41.   Shoshanah, Israel can NOT win an arms race 11:06  |  spyguy 02/01/07
  42.   For Spyguy # 29, on the Blitz 11:12  |  Clickfool 02/01/07
  43.   Shoshanah Not prayer, but negotiation 11:14  |  spyguy 02/01/07
  44.   #38 What happens to your calculation 11:18  |  spyguy 02/01/07
  45.   #38 Vittorio 11:18  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/01/07
  46.   For Spyguy # 41, on reliance on technology 11:27  |  Clickfool 02/01/07
  47.   #42 Click, the unfortuate result of "security 11:29  |  spyguy 02/01/07
  48.   Question for Cipora # 45 11:38  |  Clickfool 02/01/07
  49.   spuyguy 11:49  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/01/07
  50.   to 17 [marwan] and all israel ppl 11:57  |  hezbollah soldier 02/01/07
  51.   #35 thats what they said about the FIRSATR TANKS clikky 12:06  |  paul harris 02/01/07
  52.   #44 SPYGUY GOOD TECHNICIAN LOUSY POLITICIAN 12:11  |  paul harris 02/01/07
  53.   #7, as usual wrong 12:23  |  Danny - Israeli one 02/01/07
  54.   spyguy,when did Israel ask for war?Iran wants to wipe out Israel 12:27  |  Susanna/Shoshanah 02/01/07
  55.   is Israel becomming another Arab state? 12:28  |  Israeli Arab 02/01/07
  56.   #25, eh? 12:31  |  Danny - Israeli one 02/01/07
  57.   US missiels didn`t saved you during Iraqi war in 1991. 12:45  |  dzone 02/01/07
  58.   More than the arrow 13:01  |  Daniel 02/01/07
  59.   THAAD Uses Arrow Technology - Unconvincingly 13:08  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 02/01/07
  60.   Arrow 13:26  |  TJ 02/01/07
  61.   Susanna/Shoshana
BTW you make Isreal sound like Ghandi 		13:47  |  Tupac 02/01/07
  62.   To hezbollah soldier, 50, 14:05  |  Jozef 02/01/07
  63.   Typo in article 14:15  |  Shlomo Liberman 02/01/07
  64.   #10 Spy Guy is 100% correct 14:24  |  Dr. Williams 02/01/07
  65.   Kfir or the arrow 14:27  |  Rod 02/01/07
  66.   So much Zionist propaganda from Susanna # 54 14:34  |  Clickfool 02/01/07
  67.   ANYTHING AMERICAN WILL BRING ISRAEL`S DESTRUCTION 14:42  |  fathfull 02/01/07
  68.   to #36 14:46  |  Go read up mate 02/01/07
  69.   If it is only possible, and can be done in time, 14:48  |  Yonatan 02/01/07
  70.   to #62 - read your press 14:53  |  Fence sitter 02/01/07
  71.   Tupac,on the contrary,Saudis sponsored the 9/11 attack on U.S. 15:07  |  Susanna/Shoshanah 02/01/07
  72.   G Dr Williams & spy guy-what a brilliant knew thought:best chance 15:12  |  Susanna/Shoshanah 02/01/07
  73.   Good news for public consumption 15:18  |  albert amato 02/01/07
  74.   Here we go again... 15:18  |  Shai 02/01/07
  75.   #18 Here`s one way to be independent - no handouts! 15:22  |  Tim 02/01/07
  76.   Uncle Sucker 15:26  |  Mike 02/01/07
  77.   Klickfool and his Islamo-Fascist rhetoric 15:29  |  Susanna/Shoshanah 02/01/07
  78.   #64 IT DIDNT WORK IN 1938 DR AND IT WONT WORK NOW 15:30  |  paul harris 02/01/07
  79.   #44 spyguy 15:31  |  Vittorio 02/01/07
  80.   #70 WHAT WAR ? A 30 DAY SKIRMISH IS WHAT IT WAS 15:34