NYN | News
Israeli reports indicate that the country’s missile defense system, the Arrow, is facing a severe shortage of ammunition due to the ongoing war with Iran and repeated attacks from Yemen.
According to the Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth, the stockpiles of interceptor missiles used by the Arrow system—designed to counter ballistic missiles—have been significantly depleted during the recent days of confrontation with Iran. Additionally, the system has been used almost daily to intercept missile attacks originating from Yemen.
The report, published Sunday evening, stated that the cost of a single interceptor missile within this system ranges between 14 and 15 million shekels (equivalent to approximately $4.1 to $4.4 million), which adds to the logistical and financial challenges of replenishing the stockpile.
The newspaper noted that delays in approving new budgets to restock ammunition could negatively affect the readiness of the Israeli military for any future conflict, particularly given the possibility of a renewed round of escalation with Iran sooner than previously anticipated.
In the same context, the paper cited security sources saying that senior officials in the Ministry of Defense have held meetings with Israeli defense industry companies—such as Elbit Systems, Rafael, and Israel Aerospace Industries—to urge them to accelerate production of standard munitions, which have been heavily consumed over the past few weeks.
The newspaper also revealed that the military establishment, in closed-door meetings, has reviewed data on the loss of Israeli drones inside Iran, with costs estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars—further deepening concerns over the slow pace of industrial and military response.
It is worth noting that the Arrow system, despite being one of the cornerstones of Israel’s defense against ballistic missiles, has recently faced major challenges in intercepting precision attacks from both Iran and Yemen, including strikes that targeted strategic facilities such as Ben Gurion Airport, according to media reports.
