Munitions

Arrow 2 interceptor

Also known as
  • Arrow II
  • Arrow-2
  • Hetz 2
  • Hetz-2
  • Arrow 2 missile
  • Arrow 2 interceptor missile

The Arrow 2 interceptor is the first operational missile layer in Israel's Arrow Weapon System, developed with U.S. support for upper-atmosphere ballistic-missile defense. It combines a two-stage solid-propellant body, focused fragmentation kill mechanism, and Green Pine radar cueing, with documented Israeli use against a Syrian SA-5 in 2017 and a Red Sea-area ballistic missile in 2023.

Arrow 2 interceptor, Upper-atmosphere ballistic missile interceptor, Munitions
Image source: Arrow anti-ballistic missile launch.jpg

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Israel / United States
Type
Upper-atmosphere ballistic missile interceptor
Service note
2000-present
Designer
Israel Aerospace Industries MLM Division, Israel Missile Defense Organization, and U.S. Missile Defense Agency
Designed
1988-1990s
Produced
2000s-present
Developed from
Arrow 1 technology demonstrator and Arrow Continuation Experiments demonstrator work
Developed into
Arrow 3 upper-tier interceptor and Arrow 4 replacement program

Specifications

Role
Upper-atmosphere / endo-exo atmospheric ballistic missile defense interceptor
Parent system
Arrow Weapon System
Stages
Two-stage solid-propellant interceptor with booster and sustainer
Maximum speed
Up to Mach 9 / about 3 km/s
Length
About 6.95 m
Diameter
About 0.8 m
Launch weight
About 1,300 kg
Kill mechanism
Focused explosive-fragmentation warhead
Endgame guidance
Active-radar seeker and U.S.-produced imaging infrared seeker
Intercept envelope
Reported maximum intercept range about 100 km and altitude about 50 km
Launcher
Six-pack mobile launcher within the Arrow Weapon System
Sensor cueing
ELM-2080 Green Pine / Super Green Pine radar and Arrow battle-management architecture
Variants

Arrow 2 sits between the Arrow 1 technology-demonstrator work and later Arrow upper-tier interceptors. Open sources describe block upgrades and co-produced enhanced Arrow 2 interceptors rather than a single frozen configuration.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Arrow 1Technology demonstrator

CSIS describes Arrow 1 as the first missile in the series, flight-tested from 1990 through 1994 before the lighter ACES demonstrator became the basis for Arrow 2.

Sources: Arrow 2 (Israel) | Missile Threat

Arrow 2 Block 2Early upgraded Arrow 2 configuration

CSIS associates Block 2-era testing with January and December 2003 system tests and later U.S.-Israeli tests against Scud-class targets.

Sources: Arrow 2 (Israel) | Missile Threat

Co-produced / enhanced Arrow 2U.S.-Israeli production configuration

Boeing says IAI delivered the first co-produced Arrow 2 interceptor in spring 2005, with Boeing component production in the United States and final assembly in Israel.

Sources: Arrow Weapon System Backgrounder, IAI and Boeing Sign Arrow Component Agreement

Arrow 2 Block 4Upgrade tested for improved discrimination and tracking

CSIS lists a February 10, 2012 tracking-only test that verified the Arrow Block 4 upgrade.

Sources: Arrow 2 (Israel) | Missile Threat

Arrow 3 interceptor, Exo-atmospheric ballistic missile interceptor, MunitionsArrow 3 interceptorAdjacent Arrow family upper-tier interceptor

IAI says Arrow 3 complements current and future Arrow 2 blocks and provides an exo-atmospheric layer for longer-range threats.

Sources: Arrow 3 - Precise Long-Range Interceptor

Parent System

Arrow 2 is an interceptor inside the broader Arrow Weapon System rather than a standalone launch platform.

LauncherLauncher typeLaunch evidence
Arrow air-defense system, Anti-ballistic missile defense system, Air DefenseArrow air-defense systemUpper-tier missile-defense system

IAI identifies Arrow 2 as part of the Arrow Weapon System, and CSIS describes Arrow 2 as the interceptor used by that system for upper-atmosphere ballistic-missile defense.

Sources: Arrow 2 - Advanced ATBM Missile Protection, Arrow 2 (Israel) | Missile Threat

System Architecture

Arrow 2 depends on the Arrow Weapon System's sensors, launch-control, and battle-management architecture. CSIS describes the complete system as including the Arrow missile and launcher, the EL/M-2080 Green Pine radar, Hazelnut Tree launch control center, and Citron Tree battle-management center.

ElementCatalog linkContext
Parent systemArrow air-defense system, Anti-ballistic missile defense system, Air DefenseArrow air-defense systemProvides the operational architecture that employs Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 interceptors.
Related interceptorArrow 3 interceptor, Exo-atmospheric ballistic missile interceptor, MunitionsArrow 3 interceptorCSIS describes Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 as the two interceptors compatible with the Arrow system, with Arrow 2 intended for lower-altitude targets than Arrow 3.
RadarNot linkedIAI and CSIS identify the EL/M-2080 Green Pine radar as the sensor that detects, locates, and identifies threats for Arrow 2.
Launch and battle managementNot linkedCSIS names the launcher, Hazelnut Tree launch-control center, and Citron Tree battle-management center as system elements, but no matching catalog IDs were found.
Timeline

Arrow 2 interceptor Key Events

  1. Arrow development begins

    CSIS dates Arrow system development to June 1988 as a jointly funded U.S.-Israeli effort.

  2. Arrow 1 flight-test era begins

    CSIS describes Arrow 1 as the technology demonstrator that began flight testing in 1990 and completed its final flight in 1994.

  3. ACES demonstrator work leads toward Arrow 2

    CSIS says Israel conducted Arrow Continuation Experiment demonstrator flights from 1995 to 1996, and that the lighter ACES missile became the basis for Arrow 2.

  4. Arrow 2 intercepts a ballistic target in testing

    CSIS reports that Israel first flight-tested Arrow 2 in March 1997 and successfully intercepted a ballistic target.

  5. First Arrow 2 battery enters Israeli Air Force command

    Arms Control Association reported that the Israeli Air Force took operational command of the first planned Arrow 2 battery on March 14, 2000.

  6. IAI and Boeing sign component production agreement

    Boeing announced an agreement to establish U.S. production infrastructure for Arrow missile components, with IAI retaining integration and final assembly in Israel.

  7. Arrow 2 intercepts Syrian SA-5/S-200 missile

    Defense News reported that an Israeli Air Force officer confirmed Arrow 2 scored its first operational intercept against a Syrian SA-5 after Israeli aircraft struck targets in Syria.

  8. AST-18a MRBM-target intercept

    CSIS lists AST-18a as a successful Arrow 2 intercept of a medium-range ballistic missile target.

  9. Arrow 2 intercepts Red Sea-area ballistic missile

    Breaking Defense and Arms Control Association reporting identified the October 31, 2023 Red Sea-area engagement as an Arrow 2 interception of a ballistic missile fired toward Israel.

Media

Arrow 2 interceptor Videos

Arrow 2 interceptor Images

Arrow 2 interceptor, Upper-atmosphere ballistic missile interceptor, Munitions - view 1
Source: Arrow2launcher.jpg
Arrow 2 interceptor, Upper-atmosphere ballistic missile interceptor, Munitions - view 2
Source: Arrow anti-ballistic missile launch.jpg
Arrow 2 interceptor, Upper-atmosphere ballistic missile interceptor, Munitions - view 3
Source: Arrow missile interceptor.jpg
Related Weapon Systems
Green Pine radar, Long-range ballistic-missile defense radar, Air DefenseAir DefenseGreen Pine radarLong-range ballistic-missile defense radarGreen Pine is the IAI ELTA long-range AESA radar family that gives the Arrow Weapon System its ballistic-missile early-warning, tracking, classification, and fire-control sensor layer. Fielded first by Israel and later exported in upgraded forms, the radar can operate as a stand-alone early-warning sensor or as part of Arrow architecture, with direct Israeli use documented during Operation Rising Lion in the 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict.
Stunner interceptor, Missile interceptor, Air DefenseAir DefenseStunner interceptorMissile interceptorThe Stunner interceptor is the two-stage hit-to-kill missile fired by David's Sling, Israel's mid-tier air and missile-defense layer co-developed by Rafael and Raytheon. CSIS describes the missile as using radar datalink updates and onboard terminal seekers, while RTX markets SkyCeptor as a Stunner-family variant for short- to medium-range missile-defense threats. Source-backed operational use is documented in Gaza-related interceptions and the post-October 2023 Israel-Hezbollah fighting.
Next Generation Interceptor (NGI), Ground-launched ballistic missile interceptor, Air DefenseAir DefenseNext Generation Interceptor (NGI)Ground-launched ballistic missile interceptorNext Generation Interceptor (NGI) is Lockheed Martin's planned homeland ballistic missile interceptor for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Midcourse Defense system. The program moved from competing 2021 development awards to a 2024 Lockheed Martin downselect and a 2026 Courtland production facility, with public sources emphasizing multiple kill vehicles, solid-rocket propulsion, in-flight communications upgrades, and schedule risk around the original 2028 fielding target.
Barak LR / LRAD interceptor, Long-range surface-to-air interceptor, Air DefenseAir DefenseBarak LR / LRAD interceptorLong-range surface-to-air interceptorBarak LR, also identified in Israeli operational reporting as LRAD, is Israel Aerospace Industries' 70 km long-range interceptor in the Barak MX air and missile defense family. It combines vertical launch, a dual-pulse motor, an active RF seeker, and battle-management data links for land and naval air defense, including Barak Magen use from Israeli Navy Sa'ar 6 missile ships against Iranian-launched UAVs during the 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict.

Sources

Arrow 2 - Advanced ATBM Missile ProtectionPublisher: Israel Aerospace Industries | Note: Supports Arrow 2 manufacturer background and specifications, including its Arrow Weapon System role, Green Pine radar cueing, two-stage propulsion, fragmentation warhead, endo/exo capability, and anti-tactical ballistic missile mission. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Arrow 2 (Israel) | Missile ThreatPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports Arrow 2 background and specifications, including U.S.-Israeli development, deployment period, dimensions, seeker mix, warhead type, target envelope, test chronology, and Arrow Weapon System elements. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Breaking Defense Arrow 2 Red Sea InterceptPublisher: Breaking Defense | Note: Supports 2023 Red Sea Crisis direct conflict-use: used by Israel when Arrow 2 intercepted a ballistic missile fired toward Israel from the Red Sea/Yemen direction on October 31, 2023. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Israeli Arrow System Downs First Missiles in CombatPublisher: Arms Control Association | Note: Supports 2023 Red Sea Crisis direct conflict-use: used by Israel when Arrow 2 had its first successful operational intercept on October 31, 2023 before the later Arrow 3 Red Sea engagement. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Israel Explains Arrow Intercept of Syrian SAMPublisher: Defense News | Note: Supports 2011 Syrian Civil War direct conflict-use: used by Israel when Arrow 2 intercepted a Syrian SA-5/S-200 missile after Israeli aircraft struck targets in Syria on March 17, 2017. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Israel's Arrow Intercepts Syrian SAMPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports 2011 Syrian Civil War background and conflict-use context for reported Arrow 2 operational debut against a Syrian surface-to-air missile. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Israeli Air Force Takes Command of Arrow SystemPublisher: Arms Control Association | Note: Supports Arrow 2 deployment background, including Israeli Air Force command of the first Arrow 2 battery on March 14, 2000. | Accessed: 2026-07-02IAI and Boeing Sign Arrow Component AgreementPublisher: Boeing | Note: Supports manufacturer and co-production context, including Boeing component production in the United States and IAI integration and final assembly in Israel. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Arrow Weapon System BackgrounderPublisher: Boeing Defense, Space & Security | Note: Supports Arrow 2 co-production, two-stage interceptor design, fragmentation warhead, IAI system-integration role, and first co-produced Arrow 2 delivery in spring 2005. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Arrow 3 - Precise Long-Range InterceptorPublisher: Israel Aerospace Industries | Note: Supports Arrow family relationship context, including Arrow 3 as a complementary exo-atmospheric layer for current and future Arrow 2 blocks. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Arrow anti-ballistic missile launch.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Wikimedia Commons file page for the public-domain U.S. Navy Arrow launch image used as the primary image. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Arrow2launcher.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Wikimedia Commons file page for the Arrow 2 launcher image used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Arrow anti-ballistic missile launch4.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Wikimedia Commons file page for the public-domain U.S. government Arrow launch photo used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Arrow missile interceptor.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Wikimedia Commons file page for the public-domain Arrow missile image used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-07-02