The Israeli Ministry of Defense has confirmed a recent test of an Arrow missile defense interceptor, partly manufactured by Boeing and developed in cooperation with the US Missile Defense Organization (MDO).

Tel Aviv issued a statement on Wednesday, confirming that the secretive airspace closures the day before were indeed a “pre-planned flight test” of the Arrow weapons system. The Israeli MoD added that an Arrow 2 interceptor was used against a Sparrow target missile.

The Arrow series of missile defense interceptors has been in Israeli service for decades, however, with Arrow 3 the most recent iteration. The Arrow 2 is a tactical system with a 90km maximum range, first tested in 1995. Officially, it can detect targets at a range of 500km, and intercept them at altitudes ranging from 10km to 50km.

The US has contributed significant funding to the development of the Arrow missile defense systems, which explains the MDO presence. Many of the system’s components are manufactured by Boeing. 

Two batteries of Arrow 2 have been in service with the Israeli Defense Forces since 2002.

Israel has long argued that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs represent an existential threat and require a military build-up. Tehran has maintained that its nuclear aspirations are purely civilian and the ballistic missiles serve to deter foreign aggression.