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Arrow-3
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TechnologyIL

Arrow-3

Israel's exo-atmospheric Ballistic missile interceptor, now critically depleted by sustained Iranian salvos.

RUSI projected Arrow-3 stocks 81% spent by 26 March 2026, and by 10 April Israel's upper-tier interceptor was described as near exhausted, with two to three years needed to restock.

Last refreshed: 28 September 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Can Israel replenish Arrow-3 stocks fast enough to survive Iran's missile campaign?

Timeline for Arrow-3

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Background

Arrow-3 is Israel's uppermost ballistic-missile defence layer. It is designed to Intercept long-range ballistic missiles above the atmosphere, in mid-course flight, before their warheads descend towards cities or strategic sites. It entered operational service in 2017.

Israel Aerospace Industries builds the system with Boeing as its US partner. It sits above Arrow-2, David's Sling and Iron Dome in Israel's layered air defence. Arrow and David's Sling batteries need 20 to 30 minutes to reload, a window that repeated salvos can probe.

Arrow-3 interceptors are built on multi-year production contracts, so stocks spent in a long exchange of fire cannot be quickly replaced; in April 2026 restocking was put at two to three years.

Key Issues
Interceptor stocks

Arrow-3 stocks ran close to empty

In mid-March US officials told Semafor that Israel was critically low on interceptors, and Israel's Cabinet approved 2.6 billion shekels (about $826m) of emergency interceptor purchases. On 20 March interceptors launched at Dimona and Arad failed to engage incoming warheads, and 84 people were wounded in Arad and 40 in Dimona.

RUSI then projected Arrow-3 stocks at 81.33% depleted by 26 March, with full exhaustion by the end of the month, and replacement depends on multi-year production contracts. Iran fired its first cluster-warhead Ballistic missile at central Israel on 31 March, as the projected gap opened. By 10 April Arrow-3 stocks were described as near exhausted, with two to three years needed to restock.

Common Questions
What is Arrow-3?
Arrow-3 is Israel's exo-atmospheric Ballistic missile interceptor, developed jointly with the United States. It intercepts ballistic missiles above the atmosphere during their mid-course phase and has been operational since 2017, forming the top tier of Israel's layered air defence alongside David's Sling and Iron Dome.Source: Israeli Ministry of Defence / MDA
Is Israel running out of Arrow-3 missiles?
Yes. US officials cited by Semafor in 2026 confirmed Israel informed Washington it was critically low on Ballistic missile interceptors. Israel's Cabinet subsequently approved NIS 2.6 billion (~$826 million) in emergency defence procurement to address the shortage.Source: Semafor
Has Arrow-3 failed to intercept Iranian missiles?
Yes. Near Dimona, interceptors launched but failed to hit incoming threats, resulting in ground impacts. Cluster missile salvos in 2026 also produced confirmed impacts in central Israeli towns, indicating the system was overwhelmed or unavailable.Source: IDF / Israeli firefighters
What is the difference between Arrow-3 and Iron Dome?
Arrow-3 intercepts ballistic missiles above the atmosphere at long range. Iron Dome intercepts short-range rockets and artillery shells inside the atmosphere. David's Sling handles medium-range threats between them. Together they form three distinct layers of Israel's air defence.Source: Israeli Ministry of Defence
How much does an Arrow-3 interceptor cost?
Each Arrow-3 interceptor costs an estimated $2-3 million. Iran's ballistic missiles cost significantly less, giving Tehran an economic advantage in a war of attrition designed to exhaust Israel's finite interceptor stocks.Source: CSIS / open-source defence analysis