Israel’s Arrow-3 missile defense system failed to intercept a Houthi missile, allowing it to hit the Ben Gurion Airport in a rather shocking incident. The ‘big miss’ by the cutting-edge defense system could rattle Germany, its first and only export customer so far.
Following the attack, the Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main international airport, was shut down, and flights were halted. The missile reportedly hit an access road leading to the airport parking lot.
Several visuals of the aftermath were published on social media, first showing a black plume of smoke from the site, followed by photos showing a 25-meter-deep crater created by the missile’s impact.
The Yemen-based Houthi militia claimed the attack, an Iran-backed group that has launched regular attacks on Israel and ships traversing the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestine. The Houthis referred to the missile as a “hypersonic ballistic missile,” which was described as a new model capable of evading Israel’s advanced radar systems.
The attack has called the capability of the Arrow-3 into question, an Israeli missile defense system designed primarily to intercept long-range ballistic missiles.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Arrow anti-air system interceptor was launched at the Houthi missile. The officials stated that the target was correctly identified, with alerts from the IDF Home Front Command sent out minutes before the sirens for the air raid went out. However, the missile still struck the airport.
According to reports, the initial IDF inquiry found a likely technical glitch with the Arrow-3 interceptor. However, specifics of the issue, whether in sensors, guidance systems, or kill vehicles, were not disclosed. This suggests a potential reliability issue under real-world conditions, despite successful tests and combat use against Houthi and Iranian missiles in 2023–2024.
After Arrow-3’s failed attempt, a US-origin THAAD interceptor was launched as a second line of defense, which also failed to shoot down the Houthi missile.
Interestingly, this ‘big miss’ comes over a month after media reports indicated that an American THAAD missile and an Israeli Arrow missile simultaneously intercepted the two ballistic missiles fired from Yemen.
The two anti-ballistic missile defense systems have been working in tandem to protect Israel against the incessant Houthi missiles.
The THAAD, perceived as an analog of Arrow-3, was deployed to Israel in October 2024 when threats of Tehran’s retaliation to the Israeli air strike on Iran loomed large.
The incident represents a significant security lapse at one of Israel’s most tightly guarded locations and has cast doubt on the Jewish nation’s capability to prevent such attacks despite boasting of a multi-layered missile defense that consists of the Arrow, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome. Following the attack, Israeli publication Ynet News stated that while Arrow has a better interception rate than THAAD, neither provides foolproof protection.
Notably, the Houthis claimed the missile to be a hypersonic missile that typically travels at over five times the speed of sound and follows an unpredictable trajectory. These missiles are far tougher to intercept by a conventional missile defense system designed for intercepting ballistic or cruise missiles. For this reason, newer, more advanced hypersonic interceptors are under development worldwide.
The Houthis have used what they refer to as the “Palestine-2” hypersonic missile, claiming that it has stealth technology, a 2,150-kilometer range, a Mach 16 speed, and very high maneuverability.
Moreover, Iran, which is responsible for arming Houthis, has claimed to have developed multiple lethal, long-range missiles that are capable of evading Israeli and US air defenses. Experts said that the Israelis may have misjudged the capability of Houthi missiles.
Germany Bought Arrow-3; It Must Be Watching
Germany is the only confirmed export customer of the Arrow-3 missile defense system, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Boeing.
The acquisition was made to bolster Germany’s air and missile defense as part of its European Sky Shield Initiative, which was prompted by heightened concerns over Russian missile threats.
Designed for ballistic trajectories, Arrow-3’s electro-optical sensors and divert thrusters may not be able to detect hypersonic missiles, which would raise concerns about its suitability for Germany, which acquired the system to protect against missile threats from Russia (which has three different types of hypersonic missiles).
While Berlin has maintained silence so far, there is speculation that the recent incident could fuel criticism from opposition parties or calls for diversifying defense acquisitions.
Moreover, it would likely be assessed by countries like Poland, Romania, and Scandinavian countries that previously showed interest in the system.
In September 2023, Israeli and German officials signed a US$3.5 billion deal to purchase the Arrow-3. While describing the Arrow as “one of the best systems, if not the best,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said, “It is, without exaggerating, a historic day for both our countries.”
The deal includes a complete Arrow-3 system, including interceptors, launchers, and radar systems. The system’s initial deliveries are expected by the end of 2025.
The Arrow-3 is expected to complement Germany’s existing IRIS-T and Patriot systems, providing high-altitude, exo-atmospheric interception capability.
With a range of up to 2,400 kilometers, the Arrow 3 system is known for its ability to destroy space-borne projectiles, including ballistic missiles and their warheads during their mid-course or terminal phase, before they reenter the Earth’s atmosphere.
Instead of an explosive warhead, the system uses a two-stage interceptor with a hit-to-kill warhead via a high-explosive kinetic kill vehicle (KV) equipped with advanced electro-optical sensors and gimbaled seekers for precise targeting.
The Arrow-3 missile strikes close to the target and destroys it with a torrent of hot metal shards. This method removes the need for a warhead but necessitates more accuracy in tracking the target and guiding the missile. The missile has a hypersonic speed of about Mach 9.
The Arrow-3 features mobile, truck-mounted launchers with vertical launch canisters, which makes the system designed for mobility and survivability.
According to reports, this missile defense system has demonstrated a kill probability of more than 90% during testing. Additionally, Israel states that it has been designed to operate in contested environments, with robust electronic countermeasures against jamming. It can also easily identify real targets from decoys, with the help of its advanced sensors.
The system made its combat debut in November 2023 when it intercepted a Ghadr-110 ballistic missile launched by Houthis. Later, in April 2024, it was lauded for shooting down most of the missiles launched by Iran’s Operation True Promise.
At the time, some officials claimed it had an interception rate of 99%.
The vulnerability of Arrow-3 was first exposed in October 2024 when Iran launched a volley of 180 ballistic missiles. At the time, while the Israel Defense Ministry claimed it “proved effective,” despite some missiles managing to get past Israeli defenses.
For instance, Nevatim Air Force Base reported over 33 hits, according to reports. Nonetheless, despite some misses, the overall interception rate was still projected to be very high.
For now, the Israelis are investigating the failed shootdown, and the Germans would be keeping a close eye!
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