Boeing's Huntsville Plant Home To New Production

Boeing and Israel Aircraft Industries will use a north Alabama factory to make parts of the Israeli Arrow missile -- a missile-killing system already protecting the Middle East country.

Boeing spokeswoman Martha Newhart said Thursday missile components will begin rolling off the assembly line in late 2004 or early 2005. She said Boeing will use its plant in Huntsville rather than build a new one.

Final assembly will be conducted in Israel.

Finally, An Agreement 

The IAI, owned by the Israeli government, and Boeing signed an agreement last week, but the value of the deal was not disclosed. Ms. Newhart said many details of the plan are classified for security reasons.

More than 150 U.S. companies in some 25 states already make parts for the Arrow missile.

The Arrow Weapons System (AWS) is now being operationally deployed. It is the world's first Stand-Alone, Anti-Theater Ballistic Missile (ATBM) National Defense System. Designed to defend against the rising threat of Theater Ballistic Missiles (TBMs), the Arrow carries a variety of warheads. The "uniquely effective" ARROW II interceptor detects, intercepts and destroys incoming TBMs and provides a large defended footprint, allowing the protection of important strategic assets, as well as civilian population centers.

FMI: Israeli Aircraft Industries, www.boeing.com