Israel’s weapons that thwarted Iran attack

ISRAEL’S Multi-layered air defence system intercepted “99 per cent” of a wave of 300 long-range missiles and armed drones launched by Iran on Saturday night in retaliation for the Israeli attack on its embassy premises in Damascus, Syria, earlier this month.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said only a few missiles landed in Israeli territory, causing minimal damage to an airbase in southern Israel and injuring a child.

Israel’s air defence system is meant to protect against a range of aerial threats, including aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS). The air defence systems can target projectiles at the source or when in transit.

Cruise missiles fly at low heights; ballistic missiles follow high parabolic trajectories. Because of their standard parabolic trajectory, ballistic missiles are easier to track compared to cruise missiles, which can fox air defence systems due to their manoeuvrability.

Systems such as Arrow 2 and Arrow 3, David’s Sling, Iron Dome, Patriot Advanced Capability-2, and PAC-3 are integrated to work in tandem with advanced fighter aircraft operated by the Israeli air force.

The Arrow system, developed in collaboration with the United States, is a family of anti-ballistic missiles that are capable of intercepting long-range missiles in the upper atmosphere. Arrow-3 was employed against long-range missiles launched by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militia, according to a report by the Associated Press.

David's Sling (or Stunner) is Israel's medium-range air defence system, which can intercept cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and aircraft. It has a range of 300 km, and an advanced phased-array radar for easier detection.

The Iron Dome is Israel’s indigenous short-range air defence system. According to the manufacturer Rafael, it was first used in combat interception in April 2011. It is “the only multi-mission system in the world that provides a combat-proven solution to defeat Very Short Range (VSHORAD), as well as rocket, artillery and mortar (C-RAM) threats, aircraft, helicopters, UAVS, PGMS, and cruise missiles, for land and naval air defence, operating 24/7, in all weather conditions,” the manufacturer says.

With a 70 kilometre range, the dome has been effective against short-range threats such as rockets launched by Hamas, the Palestinian militant group.

■ The Us-made Patriot PAC-2 and PAC-3 are air defence systems that can intercept a range of missiles and target aircraft and drones. They are among the oldest air defence systems, and were used during the First Gulf War in 1991 for intercepting Scud missiles launched by Iraq.

■ American built F-16 and F-35 fighter jets, which are equipped with air-to-air missiles, play a major role in Israel’s air defence.

■ Israel is also developing a system called the Iron Beam to intercept incoming threats with laser technology. It is not fully operational yet.