As multiple wars in the MiddleEast appear unabated, Israel, the main defender and attacker on multiple waterfronts in the city of Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen and now Syria, has ordered the Israel Aerospace Industries, I.A.I to mass produce Arrow Missiles Interceptors in a very large numbers, with the Israel Ministry of Defense saying that the State of Israel has increased its Defense spending for 2025 and 2026 to 42 billion New Israeli Shekels which is approximately 12.5 billion dollars.
During the 12-day war with Iran, there were multiple reports that Israel was running low on Arrow Missiles Interceptors Defense System as Iran long range missiles were seen hitting targets in Israel.
Aerospace observers said the advanced Arrow high-altitude defense systems are critical to countering long-range ballistic missile threats, like those launched from Iran during the 12-day war in June 2025.
According to the Israel Ministry of Defense in a press statement on Thursday, “the Director General of the Israel Ministry of Defense, (IMOD), Major General (Reservist) Amir Baram, signed a production contract to significantly accelerate the serial production of Arrow interceptors at I.A.I, (Israel Aerospace Industries).
As part of the deal, I.A.I will supply the IMOD with a significant additional amount of Arrow interceptors. The deal was led by Moshe Patel, Director of the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) within the Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDRD).
The Arrow system, developed and manufactured in cooperation with the U.S Missile Defense Agency (MDA), demonstrated significant interception capabilities during the Swords of Iron War, especially during Operation Rising Lion.
The system provides exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception capabilities against ballistic missile threats, protecting the State of Israel from strategic long-range threats. The Arrow system integrates cutting-edge technologies and is considered one of the world’s most advanced air and missile defense systems.
I.A.I is the prime contractor for developing the Arrow system and its interceptors through its MLM facility in partnership with the U.S company Stark Aerospace. Other partners include I.A.I’s ELTA and TAMAM Divisions, Elbit Systems, Tomer, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
The U.S Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is a major partner of the IMDO at the Ministry’s DDRD in the development and production of Israel’s Multi-layered Defense Systems, including the Arrow and David’s Sling Weapon Systems, and the production of Iron Dome Defense System components. The strategic cooperation between the MDA and the IMDO helps ensure Israel’s technological edge in air and missile defense”.
Also on Thursday, Israel Aerospace Industries, I.A.I in a statement said: “Israel is reinforcing its defenses on all fronts – at full speed.
In a major move to strengthen national security, the Ministry of Defense has signed a significant production contract with Israel Aerospace Industries (I.A.I) to fast-track the mass production of Arrow interceptors.
This strategic step will significantly increase production and expand Israel’s interceptor stockpiles, ensuring the country remains fully prepared for both ongoing operations and future long-range threats.
The Arrow system – designed to intercept ballistic missiles outside Earth’s atmosphere – proved its unmatched performance during the recent defense campaign, saving lives and preventing widespread damage.
As the lead developer and manufacturer, I.A.I is operating at full capacity in collaboration with trusted partners in Israel and around the world. Together, we’re not only protecting the present – we’re innovating for the future”,
Israeli based news media, Jerusalem Post also on Thursday reported that the Director-General of Israel Defense ministry, Major General Amir Baram said that Israel will raise its defense spending by 42 billion New Israel Shekels which is ($12.5 billion) this year and in 2026, the Finance and Defense Ministries said on Thursday, citing the country’s security challenges.
“The budget agreement will enable the Defense Ministry to “advance urgent and essential procurement deals critical to national security,” the ministries stated in a press release.
A long-term buildup plan starting in 2027 will be developed, per Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s instructions, to “strengthen readiness and technological superiority against [distant] threats,” the ministry said.
Additionally, mechanisms for the oversight of the defense budget will be strengthened, according to the statement.
The Director-General of the ministry, Major-General Amir Baram said that this move would allow the Defense Ministry to replenish consumed stocks of weapons and ammunition.
Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, Defense Minister, Israel Katz, and Finance Ministry Director-General, Ilan Rom all welcomed the increase in defense spending.
“The challenges ahead are complex, in distant and close arenas, against enemies who openly declare their intent to destroy us. For this, absolute military, technological, and operational superiority is required,” Katz said.
We had reported that shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned from the United States, US on Sunday where he had paid an official visit to the US President, Donald Trump, Lawmakers and other US Government officials, the misunderstanding between Bedouin and Druze tribes in the Sweida region of Syria that started last Friday took a new twist, evolving into a deadly conflicts after a Druze man was robbed at gunpoint on Friday by gunmen suspected to be natives of Bedouin tribe, this, Druze residents in Sweida shortly on Friday mobilized, went after the people of Bedouin, arrested and detained alot of natives from the Bedouin tribe, forcing the people of Bedouin to retaliate and the conflicts led to mass killings; unabated and on Tuesday, the Syria interim government soldiers entered Sweida reportedly to restore law and order, but, Israel based media reported that the Syria interim government soldiers mostly members of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, HTS assisted and joined the Bedouin militias to kill the people of Druze, and in a swift response, the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel in a press statement on Tuesday, said, the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israel Minister of Defense, Israel Katz have authorized the Israel Defense Forces, IDF to attack Syria interim regime forces led by Syria interim President, Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa who Israel Policy Forum in a publication published in December 2024, stated that the new Syria presents fresh challenges for Israel, stating that the Turkey backed Sunni jihadist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, HTS, was an al-Qaida’s former Syrian branch, and its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani (Golani) (also known as Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa), who is the current interim President of Syria was a member of an early version of the Islamic State, saying, Jolani’s chosen last name also foreshadows conflict over territory; that, his family hails from the Golan Heights, which Israel partly occupied after the 1973 War and annexed in 1981, although President al-Sharaa in nationwide broadcast on Thursday after ceasefire began around 9pm on Wednesday night said that the protection of Druze people is a top priority in his interim government but he’s not afraid of Israel that bombed the Syria Military Headquarters and the military base near Syria Presidential Palace in Damascus on Wednesday that led to the death of five persons in addition to more than 300 people killed less than a week the new conflict ensued.