Houthi rebels in Yemen fired two ballistic missiles toward Israel on March 30. As soon as the attack was detected, warning sirens blared across Israeli cities, urging residents to seek shelter in bunkers and safe houses. Thousands of Israelis quickly moved to secure locations. However, before the missiles could reach their targets, Israel’s Arrow missile defense system and the US THAAD system successfully intercepted them. The debris from the destroyed missiles was later found scattered in the Hebron area of Israel.
This incident raises the question of how much each missile interception costs. The Israeli Arrow system and the American THAAD system both provide advanced defense capabilities, but their costs and operational mechanisms differ.
Why did US deploy THAAD in Israel?
The US stationed the THAAD missile defense system in Israel in October last year. The Biden administration feared that Iran might launch a large-scale missile attack on Israel. To strengthen Israel’s air defense, the decision was made to deploy THAAD.
While both the THAAD and Arrow systems are highly effective, they have different designs and operational approaches. These systems were developed after the 1991 Gulf War, when the Patriot missile defense system struggled to intercept Iraqi Scud missiles.
Why were arrow and THAAD developed?
The Patriot system was originally designed for air defense against aircraft, but it was later modified to intercept ballistic missiles. However, its performance during wartime revealed limitations, prompting both the US and Israel to develop dedicated missile defense systems.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) used American funding to develop the Arrow-2 system for the Israeli Air Force, while Lockheed Martin created THAAD for the U.S. military.
Challenges in development
The development of the Arrow system wasn’t always smooth, as it faced multiple failures during testing. THAAD also encountered significant setbacks, which slowed its progress even further.
As a result, Arrow was handed over to the Israeli Air Force in 1998 and became operational in 2000. In contrast, THAAD only entered service in 2008. While both systems are designed to counter similar threats, they differ significantly in how they operate and their overall costs.
How do Arrow and THAAD destroy their targets?
Israel’s Arrow missile system neutralizes threats by exploding near the target, showering it with high-speed metal fragments. In contrast, the U.S. THAAD system follows a “hit-to-kill” approach, which means it directly collides with the target to destroy it. This method requires extreme accuracy but eliminates the need for a warhead.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) only adopted direct impact with the Arrow-3, designed for space-based interceptions, where explosions are ineffective. Instead, it relies on physical impact to take down threats.
Why is Arrow heavier than THAAD?
Both missile systems reach similar peak speeds of 9,000-10,000 km/h. However, THAAD is lighter, making it easier to transport via cargo planes to active war zones. In contrast, Israel designed Arrow as a heavier system, meant for fixed-base defense or deployment via military trucks.
Interception cost: Arrow vs THAAD
One major difference between the two systems is their cost:
- Arrow interceptor: USD 2-3 million per missile
- THAAD interceptor: USD 12-15 million per missile
Due to its high cost, THAAD has been purchased only by countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia, which can afford it. Germany evaluated both Arrow-3 and THAAD before ultimately selecting the Israeli Arrow system for its defense needs.
When did THAAD make its first operational interception?
THAAD successfully carried out its first operational interception in January 2022 in the UAE, where it was used to shoot down a Houthi missile.
While THAAD does not provide Israel with any new capabilities beyond what the Arrow system already offers, its presence strengthens Israel’s air defense.
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