30 November 1998
DM MORDECHAI ATTENDS DELIVERY OF FIRST "ARROW"
(Communicated by Defense Minister's Media Advisor)
Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai, yesterday (Sunday), 29.11.98, attended
a small ceremony during which the first "Arrow" missile was transferred
from an IAI factory to the headquarters of the Defense Ministry's "Homa"
project, thus beginning the process of the supply of Arrow missiles to the
defense establishment. Additional missiles will be completed in the near
future.
The Arrow missile transferred yesterday is fully operational, but contains
components which need to be tested. This missile, and the additional
missiles which will be produced in the future, will be used primarily for
testing purposes, but will be available for operational use if necessary.
After the completion of the production of this first group, production of
fully operational missiles will begin.
At the ceremony, Defense Minister Mordechai said that, "Many of the
world's developed countries are taking a long and respectful look at the
Arrow missile project, and at the unique technological achievement which
it represents."
The Defense Minister added that "The transfer of the first Arrow missile
on 29th November, the date that the UN recommended the creation of a
Jewish state represents the best present that the security establishment
could offer the State of Israel to enable it to cope with the most
dangerous threats developing in the region, which may come to constitute
an existential threat to Israel. With the help of the Arrow system, we
will have a nearly foolproof shield against the current and future
threat."
The Defense Minister said that "a great deal of resources, thought, vision
and daring has gone into the project, which has proven itself."
The Defense Minister expressed his appreciation for his predecessors,
Yitzhak Rabin, Moshe Arens and Shimon Peres, for their support for the
advancement of the project. He also thanked US Defense Secretary William
Cohen and his predecessors and the US administration for their involvement
and aid in the project. "Today, every citizen of the State of Israel feels
pride in this achievement," the Defense Minister said, expressing his
gratitude to the employees of Israel Aircraft Industries and other
factories which took part in the joint production of the "Arrow."
The Arrow missile system is currently the most advanced system in the
world for the interception of ballistic missiles.