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Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.

  • Location
    Ben Gurion International Airport
  • Type
    Missile-Production
  • Facility Status
    Operational

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IAI’s Systems Missiles and Space Group branch conducts all of its manufacturing operations at the Yehud industrial site, except for the MLM division located at Be’er Yaakov. 1 The MLM division serves as the principal contractor for the Arrow Weapon System, and is responsible for the interceptor missiles, launchers, and launcher controls. 2 MLM division also manufactures the Jericho family of ballistic missiles.

Production

In conjunction with France, IAI developed the Jericho I or YA-1, a two-stage SRBM, during the early 1960s. 3 Jane’s speculates that as of 2010, the Jericho I missiles are no longer in service. 4 IAI subsequently developed the Jericho II or YA-3 in the mid-1970s, possibly in cooperation with Iran and South Africa, deploying it beginning in the 1990s. 5 IAI developed the Jericho III, an intermediate-range ballistic missile that entered into service in 2011. 6

MLM is also the primary contractor for the Shavit Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV), 7 cooperating on some elements of the system with Israel Military Industries (IMI) and Rafael. 8 According to IAI, the Shavit SLV launches OFEQ reconnaissance satellites into orbit. 9

MLM developed a follow-on to its deployed Arrow II interceptors, known as the Arrow III, which is capable of traveling higher, farther, and faster than its predecessor. The Arrow III system was deployed in 2017. 10 In February 2021, Israel’s Missile Defense Organization announced that it was beginning development on an Arrow IV system in conjunction with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. 11

Israel Military Industries and Boeing jointly develop and manufacture the Arrow Weapon System. IAF and IAI primarily test the Arrow Weapon System at the Palmachim site, but have also conducted launches off the coast of California. 12 Reportedly, the United States spent more than $1 billion on the development of the Arrow system from 1988 to 2002. 13 The U.S. Department of Defense continues to appropriate tens of millions of dollars each year to both the Arrow II and Arrow III systems and undertakes joint test exercises with Israel. 14 However, Arrow is not part of the current U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System. 15

Glossary

Ballistic missile
A delivery vehicle powered by a liquid or solid fueled rocket that primarily travels in a ballistic (free-fall) trajectory.  The flight of a ballistic missile includes three phases: 1) boost phase, where the rocket generates thrust to launch the missile into flight; 2) midcourse phase, where the missile coasts in an arc under the influence of gravity; and 3) terminal phase, in which the missile descends towards its target.  Ballistic missiles can be characterized by three key parameters - range, payload, and Circular Error Probable (CEP), or targeting precision.  Ballistic missiles are primarily intended for use against ground targets.
Deployment
The positioning of military forces – conventional and/or nuclear – in conjunction with military planning.

Sources

  1. “Systems Missiles and Space Group: About Us,” Israel Aerospace Industries, 18 March 2010, www.iai.co.il.
  2. “Arrow Weapon System,” Israel Aerospace Industries, 25 March 2010, www.misile-iai.com.
  3. Gerald Steinberg, “Israel: Case Study for International Missile Trade and Nonproliferation Project,” in The International Missile Bazaar: The New Suppliers Network, eds. William Potter and Harlan Jencks (Boulder: Westview Press, 1993), pp. 235-253.
  4. “Jericho 1/2/3 (YA-1/YA-3),” Jane’s Strategic Weapon Systems, 3 August 2009.
  5. “Jericho 1/2/3 (YA-1/YA-3),” Jane’s Strategic Weapon Systems, 3 August 2009.
  6. “Jericho 3,” CSIS Missile Threat, 28 July 2021.
  7. “World Space Guide - Shavit,” Space Policy Project, 13 April 2010, www.fas.org.
  8. “Satellite Launchers: SHAVIT,” Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., 13 April 2010, www.iai.co.il.
  9. Gerald Steinberg, “Israel: Case Study for International Missile Trade and Nonproliferation Project,” in The International Missile Bazaar: The New Suppliers Network, eds. William Potter and Harlan Jencks (Boulder: Westview Press, 1993), pp. 235-253.
  10. “Arrow 3,” CSIS Missile Threat, 16 July 2021.
  11. “The Israel Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency Commence Development of the Arrow-4 Weapon System,” IAI, 18 February 2021.
  12. “Anti-ballistic missile misses target in second test off California in recent weeks,” Associated Press, 26 August 2004.
  13. Clyde R. Mark, “Israel: U.S. Foreign Assistance,” Congressional Research Service, 26 April 2005, www.fas.org.
  14. Jeremy M. Sharp, “U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel,” Congressional Research Service, 4 December 2009, www.fas.org.
  15. “The Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS),” Missile Defense Agency, accessed 26 May 2010, www.mda.mil.

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