TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The Israeli air force says its Arrow missile defense system is expected to undergo a series of upgrades this year.
Among the anticipated enhancements for the new Block 4.1 missile system are a new center for interception management, armored launchers with high shooting availability, better communication with other missile systems and wider ranges of interceptions.
"The variety of targets and threats that the system can tackle will expand, said Maj. Roi Pladshaw, head of the Arrow Division of the Armo Administration, which is responsible for the development of weapons in the Aerial Defense Formation.
"We will be able to intercept targets in farther ranges and also in lower altitudes."
Arrow is a long-range anti-ballistic missile system developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and Boeing.
The Israeli air force said that as part of the upgrade a new center for interception management -- with additional administrative positions, technical and operational upgrades and a connection to a new radar called radar Super Green Pine, will be established.
Super Green Pine has detection capabilities are twice that of the current Green Pine system.
"Additionally, as a part of the series of upgrades, permanent Arrow batteries will be based at an IAF airbase," the air force said. "Connectivity and data sharing with other aerial defense systems will also be improved ... (to allow) optimal coordination with the David's Sling system against mid-range missiles."
