Munitions

Arrow 3 interceptor

Also known as
  • Arrow-3
  • Hetz 3
  • Hetz-3
  • Arrow III

Arrow 3 is the exo-atmospheric, hit-to-kill interceptor in Israel's Arrow Weapon System, developed with U.S. support for long-range ballistic-missile defense. It moved from operational deployment in 2017 to documented combat use against Red Sea, Iranian, and Israel-Iran ballistic-missile threats, while Germany's procurement made it a European territorial-defense system as well as an Israeli air-defense layer.

Arrow 3 interceptor, Exo-atmospheric ballistic missile interceptor, Munitions
Image source: Wikimedia Commons IAF Arrow 3 sq1666

Role in Conflicts

Operational Layer

Arrow 3 is the long-range, exo-atmospheric interceptor inside the broader Arrow air-defense system. Germany fields the export configuration as AWS-G, a connected architecture of a control center, Green Pine Block C radars, launchers, and Arrow 3 missiles.

Combat debut

Israeli forces used Arrow 3 operationally for the first time on 9 November 2023 against a Red Sea-region launch toward Israel.

Industrial roles

Israel MOD identifies IAI as prime contractor, Elbit as command-and-control developer, and Tomer and Rafael as Arrow 3 interceptor subcontractors.

Export context

Germany's first operational Arrow 3 delivery in 2025 made the interceptor part of European long-range missile-defense planning.

Profile / Specs

Specifications

Role
Upper-tier exo-atmospheric ballistic missile interceptor
Stages
Two-stage interceptor with booster and sustainer
Kill mechanism
Hit-to-kill warhead
Sensor
High-resolution long-range electro-optical sensor
Propulsion
Two solid propulsion stages
Engagement
Large kinematic envelope for long-range threat engagement
Interception altitude
Exo-atmospheric; German service material describes intercepts above 100 km
System layer
Top layer of Israel's multilayered air and missile defense array
Operational transfer
Transferred to the Israeli Air Force Aerial Defense Array on 18 January 2017
German service name
Arrow Weapon System for Germany (AWS-G)
German AWS-G architecture
Bundeswehr describes AWS-G as a connected system with a control center, Green Pine Block C radars, launchers, and Arrow 3 interceptors
German deployment concept
Distributed AWS-G positions in North, East, and South Germany are planned for territorial missile defense
Variants

Arrow 3 is the exo-atmospheric member of the Arrow interceptor family, paired with Arrow 2 inside the broader Arrow Weapon System.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Arrow 2 interceptor, Upper-atmosphere ballistic missile interceptor, MunitionsArrow 2 interceptorEarlier upper-atmosphere interceptor

Israel's defense ministry describes Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 as complementary upper-layer interceptors, with Arrow 3 adding higher-altitude exo-atmospheric engagement.

Sources: Israel MOD DDR&D Arrow Program

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

Arrow 3 is launched as part of the Arrow Weapon System; German AWS-G material describes the fielded system as a control center, Green Pine Block C radars, launchers, and Arrow 3 missiles.

Sources: Arrow 3 - Precise Long-Range Interceptor, Arrow 3 (Israel) | Missile Threat, Bundeswehr Arrow Kaufbeuren Site

Timeline

Arrow 3 interceptor Key Events

  1. Arrow 3 transferred to operational service

    Israel's defense ministry says IMDO transferred the operational Arrow 3 to the Israeli Air Force Aerial Defense Array on 18 January 2017.

    Sources: Israel MOD DDR&D Arrow Program

  2. Alaska test campaign demonstrates exo-atmospheric intercepts

    IMDO and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency completed Arrow 3 tests in Alaska that demonstrated hit-to-kill interceptions of high-altitude, exo-atmospheric targets.

    Sources: IAI Arrow 3 Alaska Test Campaign

  3. First operational Arrow 3 interception

    Israeli air-defense soldiers launched Arrow 3 operationally against a target fired toward Israel from the Red Sea region.

    Sources: MOD-IDF Arrow 3 Operational Interception, FDD Arrow 3 Red Sea Intercept

  4. Arrow 3 used during Iran's direct attack on Israel

    Reporting on the April 2024 Iranian missile and drone attack identified Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 as the primary Israeli systems used against ballistic missiles.

    Sources: Guardian Iran Attack Air Defense

  5. Open-source video documents June 2025 launches

    FPRI analysis of the June 2025 Israel-Iran fighting identified at least 34 Arrow 3 interceptor launches by Israeli missile-defense batteries.

    Sources: FPRI Shallow Ramparts

  6. Germany receives first operational Arrow 3 system

    Israel delivered the first operational Arrow 3 system to Germany under the late-2023 export contract.

    Sources: Breaking Defense Germany Arrow 3 Delivery, Bundeswehr Arrow IOC

  7. Germany selects AWS-G southern sensor site

    Bundeswehr announced the Kaufbeuren-area site for AWS-G's southern sensor position, describing the North, East, and South deployment concept for German territorial missile defense.

    Sources: Bundeswehr Arrow Kaufbeuren Site

Media

Arrow 3 interceptor Videos

Arrow 3 interceptor Images

Arrow 3 interceptor, Exo-atmospheric ballistic missile interceptor, Munitions - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons Arrow 3 missiles 2022-01-18
Arrow 3 interceptor, Exo-atmospheric ballistic missile interceptor, Munitions - view 2
Source: Wikimedia Commons Arrow-3 Feb-25-2013 (1)
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Sources

Arrow 3 - Precise Long-Range InterceptorPublisher: Israel Aerospace Industries | Note: Supports Arrow 3 manufacturer, background, and specifications, including its Arrow Weapon System role, two-stage hit-to-kill design, electro-optical sensor, and exo-atmospheric threat engagement. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Boeing IAI Arrow 3 Flight TestPublisher: Boeing | Note: Supports Boeing co-development and co-production of Arrow 3, IAI-MLM prime contractor responsibilities, and the interceptor's outside-the-atmosphere engagement role. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Israel MOD DDR&D Arrow ProgramPublisher: Israel Ministry of Defense | Note: Supports Arrow 3 system architecture, operational transfer to the Israeli Air Force Aerial Defense Array, exo-atmospheric engagement role, IAI prime-contractor role, and U.S.-Israeli development context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Arrow 3 (Israel) | Missile ThreatPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports Arrow 3 background and specs, including its Arrow Weapon System integration and launcher-linked employment context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Israel MOD and IAI Sign Major Deal to Expand Procurement of Arrow-3 InterceptorsPublisher: Israel Ministry of Defense | Note: Supports Arrow 3 background and 2024 Iran-Israel Exchange conflict use: Israel MOD said the Arrow system, including Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 interceptors, successfully intercepted numerous threats during Iranian missile attacks on 14 April 2024. | Accessed: 2026-07-04IMOD Arrow 3 Germany HandoverPublisher: Israel Ministry of Defense | Note: Supports German Arrow 3 handover context and industrial roles, including IAI as prime contractor, U.S. Missile Defense Agency development context, Elbit command-and-control work, and Rafael as an Arrow 3 interceptor subcontractor. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Bundeswehr Arrow Kaufbeuren SitePublisher: Bundeswehr | Note: Supports AWS-G architecture and German deployment context, including the planned Kaufbeuren-area southern sensor position, North/East/South distributed deployment, Green Pine Block C radars, launchers, and Arrow 3 interceptors. | Accessed: 2026-07-04IAI Arrow 3 Alaska Test CampaignPublisher: Israel Aerospace Industries | Note: Supports the 2019 IMDO/MDA Alaska test campaign, high-altitude exo-atmospheric hit-to-kill interceptions, AN/TPY-2 interoperability, and IAI-led test context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Arrow 3 Canisters Production Moved to the USPublisher: Israel Aerospace Industries | Note: Supports IAI prime-contractor context and Arrow 3 interceptor production and system-integration responsibilities. | Accessed: 2026-07-02MOD-IDF Arrow 3 Operational InterceptionPublisher: Israel Ministry of Defense | Note: Supports 2023 Red Sea Crisis conflict use: Israeli Air Defense Array soldiers launched an Arrow 3 interceptor operationally on 9 November 2023 against a target launched toward Israel from the Red Sea region. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Bundeswehr Arrow IOCPublisher: Bundeswehr | Note: Supports German AWS-G initial operational capability on 3 December 2025, the German service name, above-100-km exo-atmospheric engagement, and Patriot/IRIS-T SLM upper-layer context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Bundeswehr Arrow ExplainerPublisher: Bundeswehr | Note: Supports AWS-G capability context, hit-to-kill description, exo-atmospheric engagement above 100 km, and German/European territorial missile-defense role. | Accessed: 2026-07-02FDD Arrow 3 Red Sea InterceptPublisher: Foundation for Defense of Democracies | Note: Supports 2023 Red Sea Crisis conflict use: a Houthi missile fired toward Eilat on 9 November 2023 was intercepted over the Red Sea by Israel's Arrow 3 system. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Guardian Iran Attack Air DefensePublisher: The Guardian | Note: Supports 2024 Iran-Israel Exchange conflict use: Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 were identified as the main Israeli systems used against ballistic missiles during Iran's April 2024 attack. | Accessed: 2026-07-02FPRI Shallow RampartsPublisher: Foreign Policy Research Institute | Note: Supports 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict conflict use: video analysis documented at least 34 Arrow 3 launches by Israeli missile-defense batteries during the June 2025 fighting. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Breaking Defense Germany Arrow 3 DeliveryPublisher: Breaking Defense | Note: Supports Germany export and operator context, the late-2023 Arrow 3 contract, first operational delivery in 2025, and manufacturer/subcontractor context for IAI, Elbit, Tomer, Rafael, and Boeing. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Wikimedia Commons IAF Arrow 3 sq1666Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY-SA 4.0 licensing for the main Arrow 3 image. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Wikimedia Commons Arrow 3 missiles 2022-01-18Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and release context for the 2022 Arrow 3 test image. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Wikimedia Commons Arrow-3 Feb-25-2013 (1)Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain status for the 2013 Arrow 3 flight-test image. | Accessed: 2026-07-02