JERUSALEM — On Thursday, Iranian missiles once again slipped past Israel’s state-of-the-art air defense systems, striking a major hospital in the southern region along with residential districts situated in the busy hub of the country.
Israel has historically depended on its layered missile defense strategy to shield its citizens from rocket attacks, predominantly launched by militants in Gaza and Lebanon. However, the ongoing conflicts across the Middle East in 2023 have expanded this threat roster to incorporate attacks from rebels based in Yemen and Iran as well.
Over the years, Israel, fortified by U.S. collaboration, has crafted a comprehensive defensive architecture designed to detect incoming threats and activate only if a projectile is targeting metropolitan groups or key military and civilian sites, permitting others to land harmlessly in deserted areas.
The defense network is equipped to neutralize threats ranging from short-range rockets to medium-range missiles, including attack drones, and extending to ballistic missiles, similar to those launched by Iran.
Despite its advanced capabilities, Israeli military authorities caution against viewing the system as infallible. While its interception success rates are commendably high, there remains a vulnerability to penetration. The simultaneous launch of numerous projectiles can inundate the defense system, which functions as a result of combined technological prowess and human decision-making to maintain efficacy.
Israeli officials report that Iranian assaults have claimed at least 24 lives since hostilities ignited on June 13, leaving a trail of devastation across residential areas and infrastructure throughout several parts of the nation.
A deeper examination of Israel’s air-defense system reveals several key components:
The Arrow
A collaborative venture with the U.S., The Arrow system is crafted to intercept long-range missiles, including the ballistic varieties launched by Iran. Deployed above the earth’s atmosphere, it has also been instrumental in targeting long-range missile threats from Houthi militants in Yemen during the ongoing conflict.
David’s Sling
Developed alongside the U.S., David’s Sling is engineered for neutralizing medium-range missiles, akin to those stocked by Hezbollah in Lebanon. It has seen recurrent deployment as the conflict persists.
Iron Dome
An indigenous system backed by U.S. support, the Iron Dome is adept at neutralizing short-range rocket threats. It has proven its mettle by intercepting thousands of rockets since its commencement in the early 2010s, including numerous interceptions in the prevailing conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah, boasting a success rate exceeding 90%.
Iron Beam
Emerging as a novel solution, Israel’s Iron Beam aims to employ laser technology for intercepting potential threats. Expected to revolutionize defense due to its lower operational costs, Israel predicts Iron Beam interceptions will be significantly cheaper than its predecessors.
Current figures suggest each Iron Dome interception costs around $50,000, while expenses for other systems soar past $2 million a missile. Contrastingly, Iron Beam interceptions are estimated to cost only a few dollars, projecting potential cost-efficiency for future defenses.
While tests of the technology have been conducted over the past 20 months of the conflict, the system awaits full operation.
This article originally appeared on Oct. 2, 2024, with updates made on Thursday.