Israel’s Air-Defense: Uncovering Weaknesses in Strikes

Jerusalem is facing a new threat as Iranian drones and ballistic missiles have added another layer of complexity to Israel’s air defense challenges. Over the last six months of ongoing conflict with Hamas, Israel’s defense system has been under continuous strain, intercepting incoming rockets, drones, and missiles. This is the second major aerial assault, marked by hundreds of explosives launched by Iran, following a similar Hamas-led assault last October.

Here’s an in-depth examination of Israel’s complex air defense framework:

The Arrow: Developed jointly with the U.S., this system targets long-range missiles, including the ballistic missiles recently launched by Iran. Designed to operate beyond Earth’s atmosphere, the Arrow has played a crucial role in intercepting long-range missiles launched by Houthi forces in Yemen during the current conflict.

David’s Sling: Another U.S.-Israel collaboration, David’s Sling is crafted to counter medium-range missiles, which are in the arsenal of Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Patriot: Originating in the U.S., the Patriot system is the oldest in Israel’s defense arsenal and saw its debut during the First Gulf War in 1991, intercepting Scud missiles from Iraq. Today, it is used to down aerial threats, including drones.

Iron Dome: Conceived in Israel with U.S. support, Iron Dome specializes in intercepting short-range rockets. Since its deployment over a decade ago, it has successfully neutralized thousands of rockets, particularly in the current conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah. Israel reports a success rate surpassing 90%.

Iron Beam: Israel is also working on a pioneering laser-based defense system to tackle aerial threats. This new system, still in development, promises a revolutionary shift as it is expected to offer substantial cost efficiency compared to current methods. However, it is not yet in active use.