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October 5, 2000

The Israeli Arrow-2 anti-missile intercepted a Black Sparrow missile on 14 Sept in the first test in which the simulated weapon was headed for Israel. The Black Sparrow is an AGM-142 Popeye air-to-ground standoff weapon modified to use a larger rocket engine. Launched from an F-15 over the Mediterranean Sea, the large rocket motor boosts Black Sparrow to high altitude and then accelerates it toward the ground, simulating the speed and profile of a ballistic missile. The Israelis plan to conduct two such tests every year to continually demonstrate the effectiveness of their defensive system.--Stephen V Cole