March 1, 2024

IAI receives USD 450 million order from Israeli Ministry of Defence

By Arie Egozi

On November 9, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Israel Ministry of Defence announced the Arrow 3 missile defence system's first successful operational interception. — Arrow 3 missile defence system. Photo: IDF.

The shortage of ammunition Israel encountered during the ongoing war with the Iranian proxies in Gaza and Lebanon has already resulted in an order valued at USD 450 million for systems made by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

The Israeli Ministry of Defence made the order for systems that are being made in the Missile and Space Division of IAI.

The company manufactures the Arrow missiles and, according to foreign sources, also the special, highly classified missiles for the Israeli Air Force (IAF) armed UAVs.

Since the war broke out on October 7, the IAF launched some Arrow 3 interceptors mainly to intercept ballistic missiles launched in the direction of Israel by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, another Iranian proxy.

The IAF Hermes 450 UAV has launched an “amazing” number of the special missiles and hit targets in Gaza and Lebanon, mainly rocket-launching terrorists. Some of the Israeli defense companies are already busy developing additional weapon systems that can be carried by the IAF armed UAVs.

The specifics of the currently used and the new weapon systems are classified, but a defence source said that some of the new weapon systems will be smaller versions of weapon systems carried now by fixed-wing aircraft.