Israel's Ministry of Defense and the United States Department of Defense signed a deal on Sunday evening (July 25) to develop the Arrow 3 anti-missile system, integrating Israel's anti-missile systems. The Arrow 3 will make it possible for Israel to intercept long-range ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction from outside the atmosphere.

      The agreement was signed by Brig. Gen. Ofir Shoham, head of the Ministry of Defense Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure (MAFAT), and by Lt. Gen. Patrick O'Reilly, head of the US Missile Defense Agency.

      The new interceptor will complete Israel's anti-missile multilayered capacity, which includes the Iron Dome, the David’s Sling, and the Arrow. The Iron Dome is a defense system against short-range missiles and rockets which will be operational by November after it recently successfully passed final tests. The David’s Sling system is intended to intercept mid-range missiles. Finally, the Arrow system is a defense system against long-range ballistic missiles and missiles carrying atomic warheads.

      The Israeli Ministry of Defense reported that the deal continues a long and successful history of cooperation between Israel and the US in the field of anti-missile technology.

       State of Israel and the United States Sign Upper-Tier Missile Defense Agreement The Ministry of Defense of the State of Israel and the United States Department of Defense today co-signed an agreement to cooperatively develop a high-altitude Arrow-3 interceptor and to integrate it with Israel’s missile defense systems. This new Upper-Tier Project Agreement will give Israel the capability to engage ballistic missile threats at maximum range, and the ability to intercept weapons of mass destruction outside the earth’s atmosphere.

      Together with other Israeli missile defense systems, an upper tier interceptor will provide integrated, multi-layered, defenses providing Israeli forces with multiple interception opportunities of in-bound ballistic missiles.

      Signing for the State of Israel was Rear Admiral Ophir Shoham, Director of Defense Research and Development. The United States signatory was Army Lieutenant General Patrick J. O’Reilly, Director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.

      The agreement continues the long and accomplished history of cooperation between the State of Israel and the United States in the area of missile defense technology.