Israel mulls deploying more anti-missile facilities: report

Israeli defense establishment is considering deploying more anti-missile system batteries throughout the country, in addition to the two currently in place, local Jerusalem Post reported Wednesday.

According to the report, additional Arrow 2 missiles and launchers might be positioned in key locations in Israel, such as near the Dimona nuclear reactor.

Currently, there are two Arrow 2 batteries, one stationed in Palmahim in the south, the other in the north, near Ein Shemer.

On Sunday night, Israel Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted its first nighttime trial of Arrow 2 anti-missile system, during which both batteries were involved, with the one near Ein Shemer using its radar to locate and track the "enemy" missile and the one in Palmahim firing the interceptor.

Now IAF plans to test an upgraded version of the missile called the Arrow 2.5 in two months, defense sources was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

The report said that the Arrow 2.5 will carry a larger warhead and to be capable of reaching higher altitudes, where it is safer to destroy nonconventional weapons.

Arrow anti-missile system was jointly developed by Israel and the United States to intercept medium and long-range ballistic missiles.

Source: Xinhua