Key points
- Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel tested its multilayered air-defence system
- Iranian missiles penetrated Israel’s air defences Friday
- Israel’s air-defence network comprises systems like Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and the Arrow
- A new laser-based system, Iron Beam, is under development
ISLAMABAD: Israel’s multilayered air-defence system was tested Friday night as Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel, with some reportedly landing in the city of Tel Aviv, according to AP.
Israel’s military said it had intercepted the vast majority of the missiles but that some left “a few impacts on buildings.” AP reported smoke rising in Tel Aviv after an apparent missile strike. A Tel Aviv area hospital said it was treating 15 injured persons.
Multilayered network
Israel’s air defence system is a sophisticated, multilayered network designed to counter a wide range of aerial threats, from short-range rockets to long-range ballistic missiles. It includes several systems working in tandem: Iron Dome handles short-range projectiles, such as those frequently launched from Gaza and southern Lebanon; David’s Sling is designed for medium-range missiles, including those held by Hezbollah; and the Arrow system targets long-range ballistic missiles, such as those fired from Iran or Yemen.
Integrated with advanced technologies
These systems are integrated with advanced radar and tracking technologies that detect incoming threats and assess whether they pose a danger to populated areas or critical infrastructure before launching interceptors.
This selective engagement helps conserve resources while maintaining high interception success rates—Israel claims over 90 per cent for Iron Dome alone, according to AP.
Iron Beam
Israel is developing a new system to intercept incoming threats with laser technology. Israel has said this system will be a game changer because it would be much cheaper to operate than existing systems. According to Israeli media reports, the cost of a single Iron Dome interception is about $50,000, while the other systems can run more than $2 million per missile. Iron Beam interceptions, by contrast, would cost a few dollars apiece, according to Israeli officials — but the system is not yet operational, AP reported.
Systems not “hermetic”
According to a Telegraph report, Iran’s high-tech onslaught has punched deadly holes in Israel’s air defences. Scenes of devastation in cities raise doubts over impenetrability of Iron Dome as military warns systems are not “hermetic”.
Like a “bus full of explosives” ready to smash into an Israeli city. That was how Benjamin Netanyahu described Iran’s ballistic missiles before they were launched at his country at the weekend.
Tehran has now fired more than 200 missiles at Israel since Friday, according to Israeli military officials.
Many have penetrated Israel’s renowned air defences, forcing the military to warn its people that the defences were “not hermetic”.
Scenes of devastation on the streets of Tel Aviv have prompted alarm over what some believed to be the impenetrable layers of protection over Israel, including the Iron Dome.
