Despite fierce opposition in its early days, Israel’s Arrow missile defense system has become a critical lifesaving technology in the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Developed in Israel with significant U.S. support, the Arrow system is now playing a central role in intercepting incoming threats and protecting civilians.

Behind this ambitious project stands engineer Dov Raviv — but the road to success was anything but smooth. Senior IDF officials, Air Force leaders, and military analysts once strongly opposed the program.

So how did the Arrow go from controversial idea to essential defense system? And what would this war look like without it?