Arrow-2

Conflict Usage

Israel-Houthi Conflict

Side: Israel and United StatesRole: Upper-layer ballistic missile interceptionair defense

Israeli forces used the Arrow-2 layer to intercept a Houthi-launched surface-to-surface ballistic missile in the Red Sea area on 31 October 2023, before it reached Israeli territory.

Israel-Iran Conflict

Side: IsraelRole: Ballistic missile defense against Iranian salvosair defense

Open-source analysis of the June 2025 Israel-Iran war identified lower levels of Arrow-2 interceptor use alongside Arrow-3 and U.S. THAAD launches during the missile-defense effort against Iranian ballistic missiles.

Related Weapon Systems

Air DefenseTHAADTransportable anti-ballistic missile defense systemTHAAD is a U.S. transportable ballistic-missile defense system built around hit-to-kill interceptors, truck-mounted launchers, fire-control equipment, and AN/TPY-2 radar. It protects forces and population centers against short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats in the terminal phase, with documented recent use by the UAE against Houthi missiles and U.S. deployment to Israel after Iranian attacks.

Air DefenseArrow-3Exo-atmospheric anti-ballistic missile interceptorArrow-3 is the upper-tier interceptor in Israel's Arrow Weapon System, developed with U.S. support to destroy ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere. Its hit-to-kill kill vehicle, long-range engagement envelope, and integration with Israeli radar and battle-management systems make it a strategic layer above Arrow-2, David's Sling, and Iron Dome, with documented combat use against Houthi and Iranian ballistic missile attacks.

Air DefenseSAMP/TMobile long-range surface-to-air missile systemSAMP/T, also known as MAMBA in French service, is a Franco-Italian truck-mounted air and missile defense system built around Aster interceptors, a multifunction radar, and battery command-and-control modules. In Ukrainian service it fills a scarce long-range air-defense role against Russian aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, and some ballistic-missile threats.

Air DefenseSM-3Ship- and shore-launched exo-atmospheric ballistic missile interceptorThe SM-3 is a Standard Missile family interceptor for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense ships and Aegis Ashore sites. Unlike area air-defense missiles built around blast-fragmentation warheads, it uses a hit-to-kill kinetic vehicle to destroy ballistic missiles in the midcourse phase outside the atmosphere, with Block IB and Block IIA variants forming a key U.S. and allied upper-tier missile-defense layer.

Air DefenseDavid's SlingMedium- to long-range air and missile defense systemDavid's Sling is the middle tier of Israel's layered missile-defense network, co-developed by Rafael and Raytheon/RTX around the hit-to-kill Stunner interceptor. It is designed to cover threats above Iron Dome and below Arrow, including heavy rockets, cruise missiles, aircraft, drones, and tactical ballistic missiles, with recent combat use documented against rockets from Gaza and Lebanon and Iranian ballistic missiles.

Air DefenseIron DomeMobile short-range air and missile defense systemIron Dome is an Israeli mobile air and missile defense system built around the Tamir interceptor, EL/M-2084 radar, and battle-management fire control to defeat short-range rockets, artillery, mortars, and selected UAV threats. It is the lowest tier of Israel's layered missile-defense architecture and has been repeatedly documented defending Israeli population centers during recent rocket and missile campaigns from Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.

Sources