During an interview at the Jerusalem Post Miami Summit, Boaz Levy, President and CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries, discussed the origin of Israel’s Arrow anti-ballistic missile interceptors, the close collaboration with the US to create its own Golden Dome system, and the recent acquisition of additional Arrow systems by Germany.
Levy has over 30 years of experience in air defense missile systems and is considered a world-renowned expert in this field. He recalled the first interception of the Arrow 3, when the Houthis launched a ballistic missile towards Israel in the Red Sea on November 9, 2023. The Arrow 3 successfully intercepted that incoming ballistic missile in space, outside the Earth’s atmosphere.
“We acquired the Houthi missile on our radar and identified it as a hostile threat,” recalled Levy. “The IDF soldiers who are trained to operate the system pressed the button, and the interceptor was launched toward the enemy missile. After several seconds, the game was over, and the threat was eliminated far from Israel’s borders.”
Levy explained that the Arrow program was initiated as a joint effort between the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Israel Aerospace Industries. Later, it became a joint cooperation between Israel’s Defense Ministry and the MDA. “For years,” says Levy, “IAI engineers designed this unique system to defend the Israeli population against ballistic missiles. We knew that the system was combat-ready. We tested it in Israel, and we tested it in the United States several times. We are very proud that a system that we developed and built 35 years ago is today protecting our nation and families.”
Regarding joint production of a system to protect the United States, Levy says that the many years of cooperation between the MDA and IAI provide a strong gateway for future collaboration within the US as well.
“Since half of the system’s components are already produced in the United States, I believe it will be a straightforward effort to adapt and expand these joint capabilities to defend the US homeland, especially through collaboration with an American OEM that will provide a fully integrated, American-made system.”
Discussing the provision and additional acquisition of Arrow 3 systems to Germany, Levy, who is the son of a Holocaust survivor, related that the contract to supply the systems was signed shortly before October 7.
“At IAI, we have been working 24/7 in order to protect our country. At the same time, we have also been continuously working to ensure that our customers around the globe receive their systems on time.”
Levy recalls asking his mother what she thought about Israel’s sale of the Arrow 3 system to Germany. “She was very proud,” he says. “Saving lives is a mission, no matter where in the world. This is our mission, and we are very proud of it.”
This article was written in collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries.