Israel has been honing its air defense capabilities since coming under salvo fire from Iraqi Scuds in the 1991 Gulf War
Israel used its multi-layered defense shield to thwart a massive Iranian drone and missile attack on Israeli territory overnight. Its defense array includes short-range Iron Dome missiles and long-range Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 missiles.
Israel has been honing its air defense capabilities since coming under salvo fire from Iraqi Scuds in the 1991 Gulf War.
Israeli arrow system
Israel’s long-range Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 systems, developed with the Iranian missile threat in mind, are designed to intercept ballistic missiles outside the Earth’s atmosphere, using detachable warheads to collide with targets.
It operates at an altitude that can safely disperse any unconventional warhead.
State-owned Israel Aerospace Industries is the main contractor on the project, while Boeing is involved in the production of the interceptor.
On October 31, the Israeli military stated that for the first time since the war with Hamas broke out on October 7, Israel used the Arrow air defense system to intercept a surface-to-surface missile aimed at Israeli territory in the Red Sea.
On September 28, Germany and Israel signed a letter of commitment to purchase the Arrow-3 missile defense system for nearly 4 billion euros ($4.2 billion).
Israel’s David Sling System
The medium-range David Sling system is designed to shoot down ballistic missiles launched from 100 to 200 kilometers (62 to 124 miles) away.
Developed and manufactured jointly by Israel’s state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the US company Raytheon, the David’s Sling is also designed to intercept aircraft, drones and cruise missiles.
Israel’s Iron Dome System
The short-range Iron Dome air defense system was built to intercept rockets launched by Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement in Gaza.
It was developed by state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with U.S. support and entered service in 2011. Each truck pull unit fires radar-guided missiles to destroy short-range threats in the air such as rockets, mortars and drones.
Rafael said it delivered two Iron Dome batteries to the U.S. Army in 2020. Ukraine is also seeking supplies in its war with Russia, although Israel has so far only provided humanitarian support and civil defense to Kyiv.
A Navy version of Iron Dome was deployed in 2017 to protect ships and sea-based assets.
The system can quickly determine whether a rocket is striking a populated area; if not, the rocket is ignored and allowed to land harmlessly.
Iron Dome was initially promoted as providing city-wide rocket coverage with a range of 4 to 70 kilometers (2.5 to 43 miles), but experts say the range has since expanded.
Israeli laser system
Israeli interception systems cost tens of thousands to millions of dollars to shoot down incoming threats. Israel is developing a laser-based system to suppress enemy rockets and drones at an estimated cost of just $2 per interception.
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