In 2005 Wikipedia's first sentence called it “theater missile defense”. Today it says “family of anti-ballistic missiles designed to fulfill an israeli requirement for a missile defense system that”.
Measured, not asserted. Every count, date and revision on this page was taken from Wikipedia's own history and checked against the live article. The words quoted are theirs.
Machine-checked against the full current article on 2026-08-02. In 2005 Wikipedia's first sentence called it “theater missile defense”. Today it says “family of anti-ballistic missiles designed to fulfill an israeli requirement for a missile defense system that”.
We saved snapshots of this article over twenty years; you are reading the 2005 one. Red dashes: removed from Wikipedia since.Pale dots: rewritten; the numbered note shows what it says now.Red text: written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot.1 tap a number or a side note to jump between them
The opening as it read in 2005
Arrow anti-ballistic missile launch The Arrow Interceptor ( טיל חץ, Hebrew : "Hetz") is a theater missile defense (TMD) system; it is the first missile that was specifically designed and built to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles on a national level. It is the only anti-ballistic missile system able to intercept its targets so high in the stratosphere . The Arrow ABM system was designed and constructed in Israel with financial support by the United States in a multi-billion dollar development program (said to be $2,000,000,000 USD to date). The Israeli Ministry of Defence runs the Arrow development project under the name "Min'elet Homa", which binds together Israel's different security industries (such as IMI , Tadiran , IAI etc). The system was designed and constructed after the massive failure of the anti-aircraft Patriot missile system to properly intercept and destroy the Scud missiles fired by Iraq during the first Gulf War in 1991 . The ABM system is meant to intercept medium- and short-range ballistic missiles and was designed with an eye towards the advanced missile programs of Iraq and Iran . The system is built around the Arrow missiles, the "Yellow Citron" control system and the "Green Pine" radar target tracking system. In actual use, the system would be aided by American satellites that can detect and report the flare as missiles are launched. The first operational system was deployed in central Israel, at the Palmachim Airbase on the Mediterranean coast, on March 14 , 2000 . The latest missile is known as the Arrow II and is still being evaluated for improvement. Unlike the automated Patriot system, the Arrow system is controlled by an officer who can evaluate the trajectory and decide if one of the advanced Arrow missiles should be launched. There are 6 missile tubes in each launcher and each can be launched to a separate target. Confirmation of this and other abilities was demonstrated in a recent test—the 10th for the Arrow interceptor and the 5th for the complete system—as 4 of 6 missiles were launched at virtual targets during joint U.S.-Israeli exercises. The system is designed to handle up to 14 simultaneous intercepts. The Arrow 2 interceptor itself has a speed 2.5 km/s; as opposed to purely kinetic weapons it has its own explosive warhead allowing it to miss by 40–50 meters and still kill. On July 29 , 2004 Israel and the USA carried out joint experiment in the USA, in which the Arrow was launched against a real Scud missile. The experiment was a success, as the Arrow destroyed the Scud with a direct hit. Following the successful trial the Israeli Minister of Defense, Shaul Mofaz said, "this is a central plank of Israel's defense ability. The success of the test is further proof of the technological superiority of the Israeli Defense Industries". [1] The system has a high success rate and Israel plans to deploy the system at several locations to provide complete protection for the state. Procedures are reportedly in place to launch a second Arrow Interceptor should the first miss and to then launch one of the latest Patriot missiles should both fail. Israel is in negotiations with India to sell the system to them, but the US arms control regime has blocked the sale of the actual missiles, though the Green Pine system has already apparently been sold to India and installed. Discussions have also take place between Israel and Turkey , with which Israel has a strategic defense partnership, but the outcome is unknown. There has also been talk of using the Arrow as part of a multi-tier ABM system by the US.1
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 16081904.
The opening as it stood in 2010 24 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
The Arrow or Hetz ( , ) is a family of anti-ballistic missiles designed to fulfill an Israeli requirement for a theater missile defense system that would be more effective against ballistic missiles than the MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile .Jointly funded and produced by Israel and the United States, development of the system began in 1986 and has continued since, drawing some contested criticism.Undertaken by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Boeing , it is overseen by the Israeli Ministry of Defence's " Homa " ( , , " rampart ") administration and the U.S.The Arrow system consists of the joint production hypersonic Arrow anti-missile interceptor, the Elta EL/M-2080 "Green Pine" early-warning AESA radar , the Tadiran Telecom "Golden Citron" ("Citron Tree") C I center, and the Israel Aerospace Industries "Brown Hazelnut" ("Hazelnut Tree") launch control center.The system is transportable, as it can be moved to other prepared sites.Following the construction and testing of the Arrow 1 technology demonstrator, production and deployment began with the Arrow 2 version of the missile.The Arrow is considered one of the most advanced missile defense programs currently in existence.It is the first operational missile defense system specifically designed and built to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles.Arrow 3 is expected in the near future.The first Arrow battery was declared fully operational in October 2000.Although several of its components have been exported, the Israeli Air Defense Network within the Israeli Air Force (IAF) of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is currently the sole user of the complete Arrow system.There are <ref group=x> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a template (see the help page ).World of Chronos guidebook .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 369556627.
The opening as it stood in 2015 2 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
The Arrow or Hetz ( , ) is a family of anti-ballistic missiles designed to fulfill an Israeli requirement for a theater missile defense system that would be more effective against ballistic missiles than the MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile . Jointly funded and produced by Israel and the United States, development of the system began in 1986 and has continued since, drawing some contested criticism. Undertaken by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Boeing , it is overseen by the Israeli Ministry of Defense 's " Homa " ( , , " rampart ") administration and the U.S. The Arrow system consists of the joint production hypersonic Arrow anti-missile interceptor, the Elta EL/M-2080 "Green Pine" early-warning AESA radar , the Elisra "Golden Citron" ("Citron Tree") C I center, and the Israel Aerospace Industries "Brown Hazelnut" ("Hazelnut Tree") launch control center. The system is transportable, as it can be moved to other prepared sites. Following the construction and testing of the Arrow 1 technology demonstrator, production and deployment began with the Arrow 2 version of the missile. The Arrow is considered one of the most advanced missile defense programs currently in existence. It is the first operational missile defense system specifically designed and built to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles. The first Arrow battery was declared fully operational in October 2000. Although several of its components have been exported, the Israeli Air Defense Command within the Israeli Air Force (IAF) of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is currently the sole user of the complete Arrow system. Rubin, Uzi (March 2, 2003), "Beyond Iraq: Missile Proliferation in the Middle East" , Jerusalem Letter / Viewpoints , no. 493, JCPA, The Arrow program used practically no U.S. technology, just U.S. money.It was almost entirely based on Israeli technology, though we bought some components in the U.S. because they were cheaper. World of Chronos guidebook .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 665911347.
The opening as it stood in 2020
The Arrow or Hetz ( , ) is a family of anti-ballistic missiles designed to fulfill an Israeli requirement for a missile defense system that would be more effective against ballistic missiles than the MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile . Jointly funded and produced by Israel and the United States, development of the system began in 1986 and has continued since, drawing some contested criticism. Undertaken by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Boeing , it is overseen by the Israeli Ministry of Defense 's " Homa " ( , , " rampart ") administration and the U.S. The Arrow system consists of the joint production hypersonic Arrow anti-missile interceptor, the Elta EL/M-2080 "Green Pine" early-warning AESA radar , the Elisra "Golden Citron" ("Citron Tree") C I center, and the Israel Aerospace Industries "Brown Hazelnut" ("Hazelnut Tree") launch control center. The system is transportable, as it can be moved to other prepared sites. Following the construction and testing of the Arrow 1 technology demonstrator, production and deployment began with the Arrow 2 version of the missile. The Arrow is considered one of the most advanced missile defense programs currently in existence. It is the first operational missile defense system specifically designed and built to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles. The first Arrow battery was declared fully operational in October 2000. Although several of its components have been exported, the Israeli Air Defense Command within the Israeli Air Force (IAF) of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is currently the sole user of the complete Arrow system. The spaceflight upper-tier portion of Israel's missile defense, Arrow 3 , was declared operational on January 18, 2017.Arrow 3 operates at greater speeds, greater range and at greater altitudes than Arrow 2, intercepting ballistic missiles during the space-flight portion of their trajectory.According to the chairman of the Israeli Space Agency , Arrow 3 may serve as an anti-satellite weapon , which would make Israel one of the world's few countries capable of shooting down satellites. Rubin, Uzi (March 2, 2003), "Beyond Iraq: Missile Proliferation in the Middle East" , Jerusalem Letter / Viewpoints , no. 493, JCPA, The Arrow program used practically no U.S. technology, just U.S. money. It was almost entirely based on Israeli technology, though we bought some components in the U.S. because they were cheaper. World of Chronos guidebook .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 963678596.
The opening as it stood on October 6, 2023
Anti-ballistic missile family The Arrow or Hetz ( , ) is a family of anti-ballistic missiles designed to fulfill an Israeli requirement for a missile defense system that would be more effective against ballistic missiles than the MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile . Jointly funded and produced by Israel and the United States, development of the system began in 1986 and has continued since, drawing some contested criticism. Undertaken by the MALAM division of the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Boeing , it is overseen by the Israeli Ministry of Defense 's " Homa " ( , , " rampart ") administration and the U.S. It forms the long-range layer of Israel's multi-tiered missile defence system, along with David's Sling (at medium-to-long range) and both Iron Dome and Iron Beam (at short ranges).The Arrow system consists of the joint production hypersonic Arrow anti-missile interceptors, Arrow 2 and Arrow 3, the Elta EL/M-2080 "Green Pine" and "Great Pine" early-warning AESA radars , the Elisra "Golden Citron" ("Citron Tree") C I center, and the Israel Aerospace Industries "Brown Hazelnut" ("Hazelnut Tree") launch control center.The system is mobile and can be moved to other prepared sites. Following the construction and testing of the Arrow 1 technology demonstrator, production and deployment began with the Arrow 2 version of the missile. The Arrow is considered one of the most advanced missile defense programs currently in existence. It is the first operational missile defense system specifically designed and built to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles. The first Arrow battery was declared fully operational in October 2000 and is operated by the Protective Sword unit under the Air Defense Command of the IDF. Although several of its components have been exported, the Israeli Air Defense Command within the Israeli Air Force (IAF) of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is currently the sole user of the complete Arrow system. The spaceflight upper-tier portion of Israel's missile defense, Arrow 3 , was declared operational on January 18, 2017. Arrow 3 operates at greater speeds, greater range and at greater altitudes than Arrow 2, intercepting ballistic missiles during the space-flight portion of their trajectory. According to the chairman of the Israeli Space Agency , Arrow 3 may serve as an anti-satellite weapon , which would make Israel one of the world's few countries capable of shooting down satellites. Rubin, Uzi (March 2, 2003), "Beyond Iraq: Missile Proliferation in the Middle East" , Jerusalem Letter / Viewpoints , no. 493, JCPA, The Arrow program used practically no U.S. technology, just U.S. money. It was almost entirely based on Israeli technology, though we bought some components in the U.S. because they were cheaper. World of Chronos guidebook .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1175962850.
The opening as it stood in 2025 1 passage from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Israeli anti-ballistic missile family The Arrow or Hetz ( Hebrew : חֵץ , pronounced [ˈχet͡s] or pronounced [ˈħet͡s] ) is a family of anti-ballistic missiles designed to fulfill an Israeli requirement for a missile defense system that would be more effective against ballistic missiles than the MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile . Jointly funded and produced by Israel and the United States, development of the system began in 1986 and has continued since. Undertaken by the MALAM division of the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Boeing , it is overseen by the Israeli Ministry of Defense 's " Homa " ( Hebrew : חומה , pronounced [χoma] , " rampart ") administration and the U.S. It forms the long-range layer of Israel's multi-tiered missile defence system, along with David's Sling (at medium-to-long range) and Iron Dome and Iron Beam [experimental] (at short ranges). The Arrow system consists of the joint production supersonic Arrow anti-missile interceptors, Arrow 2 and Arrow 3, the Elta EL/M-2080 "Green Pine" and "Great Pine" early-warning AESA radars , the Elisra "Golden Citron" ("Citron Tree") C I center, and the Israel Aerospace Industries "Brown Hazelnut" ("Hazelnut Tree") launch control center. The system is mobile and can be moved to other prepared sites. In recognition of its strategic importance and technological achievement, the Arrow system was awarded the Israel Defense Prize in 2003. Following the construction and testing of the Arrow 1 technology demonstrator, production and deployment began with the Arrow 2 version of the missile. The Arrow is considered one of the most advanced missile defense programs in existence. It is the first operational missile defense system specifically designed and built to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles. The first Arrow battery was declared fully operational in October 2000 and is operated by the Protective Sword unit under the Air Defense Command of the Israeli Air Force (IAF). Although several of its components have been exported, the Air Defense Command is the sole user of the complete Arrow system. The spaceflight upper-tier portion of Israel's missile defense, Arrow 3 , was declared operational on January 18, 2017. Arrow 3 operates at greater speeds, greater range and at greater altitudes than Arrow 2, intercepting ballistic missiles during the space-flight portion of their trajectory. According to the chairman of the Israeli Space Agency , Arrow 3 may serve as an anti-satellite weapon , which would make Israel one of the world's few countries capable of shooting down satellites. It was almost entirely based on Israeli technology, though we bought some components in the U.S. because they were cheaper. World of Chronos guidebook .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1297843106. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.
Today
In 2005 Wikipedia's first sentence called it “theater missile defense”. Today it says “family of anti-ballistic missiles designed to fulfill an israeli requirement for a missile defense system that”. Read the current article and compare.
2005
2010
2015
2020
Oct '23
2025
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What Wikipedia says this is
Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined between 2005 and 2025.
Then
theater missile defense
Now
family of anti-ballistic missiles designed to fulfill an israeli requirement for a missile defense system that
Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.