Iron Dome to Arrow: How Israel’s missile defense responded to Hamas’ latest missile barrage

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The militant group Hamas has launched a series of rockets toward cities in southern Israel. The group said the attack was in retaliation for what it described as Israeli "massacres" of civilians in Gaza.

Israel's defense force (IDF) has reported that a total of 10 projectiles were fired and most were successfully intercepted. Despite being targeted by ten rockets, only one person sustained injuries from shrapnel.

This highlights how effective Israel’s air defense systems are and how they play a crucial role in minimizing casualties during escalations.

Isreal is fighting a war with Hamas which began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas launched a land, sea, and air assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip.

During the aerial attack that began around 6.30 am on Oct 7, 2023, at least 2,500 rockets were fired on Israel within 20 minutes span of time. The iron dome defense system, which had a proven track record of intercepting around 90 per cent of incoming threats, the system was overwhelmed by an unusually large-scale missile barrage launched by the Gaza-based group Hamas.

Similarly, when Yemen launched an attack in March, the Israeli military reported intercepting a missile and preventing it from entering Israeli airspace.

Now, let's take a closer look at how Israel uses advanced technology to defend its airspace against aerial attacks.

The Israeli air defense system is multi layered and the famous iron dome system is just a part of it.

Inside Israel's Iron Dome: The advanced defense system protecting its skies

Israel's Iron Dome is a state-of-the-art missile defense system that can intercept mortars, artillery shells, and short-range rockets between 4 and 70 kilometers away. The system, which has been in place since 2011, is made up of several batteries located throughout the nation, each of which has multiple launchers that can hold up to 20 interceptor missiles.

Iron Dome detects approaching projectiles and determines their trajectory using radar technology. Only those traveling toward populated areas are intercepted; others are left to land in open areas. "Tamir" missiles, the system's interceptors, are said to cost about $50,000 apiece.

Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries with U.S. support, Iron Dome was created following the 2006 conflict with Hezbollah, which saw thousands of rockets fired into Israel.

David’s sling: Israel’s defense against long-range threats

David's Sling is a sophisticated Israeli missile defense system that can intercept cruise missiles, drones, ballistic missiles, and long-range rockets up to 300 kilometers away.

It was created in collaboration between the American company Raytheon and Israel's Rafael and went into service in 2017. It only targets threats to populated areas, just like Iron Dome. Costing about $1 million each, "Stunner" interceptors have been heavily utilized in recent wars.

Arrow missile defense system: Israel’s shield against long-range threats

With assistance from the United States, Israel created the Arrow defense system, which is intended to intercept long-range ballistic missiles.

Arrow 3 manages missiles in space, up to 2,400 kilometers away, while Arrow 2 targets short- to medium-range threats in the upper atmosphere. The system was created following the Gulf War in 1991 and went into use in 2000.

It can engage up to 14 targets simultaneously and detect threats up to 500 kilometers away. Nine times the speed of sound is achieved by arrow missiles. In previous combat situations, including a significant attack in 2023, the system has intercepted missiles fired by Iran, the Houthis, and Syria.

Israel’s iron beam laser defense promises low-cost missile interception

Israel is developing the Iron Beam, a laser-based defense system aimed at intercepting aerial threats at a fraction of current costs. While not yet operational, officials say it could be a game changer, with interceptions costing just a few dollars compared to tens of thousands currently.