Israel has placed a new order with Israel Aerospace Industries for additional Arrow interceptors, crucial to the country’s multi-layered air defense system. Co-developed with the US Missile Defense Agency, the Arrow is capable of engaging ballistic threats both inside and outside the atmosphere, with a 2,400-kilometer range and flight ceiling above 100 kilometers. The move follows heavy use of the system during a 12-day conflict with Iran in June, where much of the interceptor stockpile was reportedly depleted. This procurement aligns with Israel’s broader defense expansion, as the government announced an increase of 42 billion shekels ($12.5 billion) in defense spending for 2025 and 2026, bringing annual defense expenditure to 110 billion shekels ($32.7 billion), roughly 9% of its GDP. The expanded budget will fund vital weapon systems deemed essential to national security.
