Operation Roaring Lion: Israel approves plan to accelerate Arrow 3 production

As Operation Roaring Lion continues, Israel has approved plans to accelerate Arrow 3 interceptor production. The move signals the country’s determination to continue the conflict for as long as necessary.  

By Sam Cranny-Evans, editor of Calibre Defence, published on April 6, 2026.  

The Israeli Ministerial Committee for Procurement has approved the MoD’s plans to increase Arrow 3 interceptor production. “Israel has sufficient interceptors to protect its citizens, and this initiative is designed to ensure continued freedom of action and the sustained operational endurance we require,” Israel Katz, the country’s defence minister, said in an April 6 press release.  

“The Ayatollah regime should know: Israel is resilient and strong, prepared to sustain the campaign for as long as necessary,” he added. The plan will accelerate efforts that are already underway to increase production of the vital interceptors.  

Arrow 3 serves a unique purpose within Israel’s layered air defence system, the interception of ballistic missiles. Both Iran and Yemen have fired ballistic missiles at Israel, and they reflect the most complex and advanced threat the country’s air defences face.  

The deal is expected to be signed shortly, allowing for a “significant increase” in both production and stockpiling of the missiles. The press release adds that this is part of the ongoing preparations for Operation Roaring Lion.   

According to the director general of the Israeli MoD, Major General Amir Baram, the MoD has been on an emergency footing for the past 12 months as it worked to increase production rates across the country’s air defence system.  

Maj. Gen. Baram is referring to the 12-day war between Israel, the US, and Iran in April 2025. Short and intense, the war consumed 25% of US THAAD interceptors and an unknown quantity of Arrow missiles.  

Calibre comment: Lessons from Operation Roaring Lion 

Operation Roaring Lion will likely provide many lessons for forces around the globe. Firstly, it serves to re-emphasise the immense risk that US airpower can pose to an adversary. Despite Iran’s air defences and preparations for such an eventuality, it has suffered extensively under the US and Israeli airstrikes. Perhaps more importantly, however, is Israel’s approach to munitions production and stockpiling.  

• Operation Roaring Lion: Israel orders ‘tens of thousands’ of artillery shells from Elbit  
• Operation Roaring Lion: Israel extends munition production for war with Iran  
• Operation Roaring Lion: Israel expands airlift in preparation for next stage  

This uplift in Arrow production is at least the fourth announcement since the operation began in February. The Israeli MoD has pre-emptively placed contracts with its domestic industry and initiated an airlift of additional munitions. Its goal was to ensure that it could not only withstand Iran’s retaliation but sustain a long strike campaign. The lesson here is perhaps that wars are rarely short or decisive, and preparation for every eventuality breeds flexibility.  

In a nutshell, for other MoDs such as Japan, South Korea, or Eastern Europe, that are facing adversaries with large long-range strike arsenals, there is plenty to take away from the way that Israel has prepared for Operation Roaring Lion. The stockpiling and increased production of Arrow are just one such example.  

The lead image shows the trails after Arrow 3 interceptors had been launched. Credit: IAI.