The Israel Defense Ministry has awarded this year’s Israeli Defense Prize to Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and its employees for the company’s development of the Arrow-3 anti-ballistic missile defense system.
The system, capable of intercepting and neutralizing ballistic missiles outside the Earth’s atmosphere, was jointly developed by Israel and the United States and is considered the cream of Israel’s defense apparatus.
The valuable prize was presented Monday in Jerusalem by President Reuven Rivlin at his official residence, along with Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot and Defense Ministry Director-General Udi Adam.
Arrow-3 is part of a multi-layer missile defense system in Israel that includes David’s Sling (Magic Wand), the Arrow and the shorter-range Iron Dome rocket defense system.
The Arrow-3 is slated to be tested next year by Israel and the United States from a site on Kodiak Island in Alaska.
