Israeli forces used two most important defensive weapons, the Iron Dome and the Arrow 3, to shoot down a lot of the greater than 300 drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles fired at its territory by Iran, whereas others had been shot down by america and different allies.
Right here’s a have a look at the 2 Israeli programs:
Iron Dome
Israel’s Iron Dome protection system can intercept many varieties of rockets that fly in excessive arcs, making them tough to cease. It grew to become operational in 2011 and acquired its first massive check over eight days in November 2014, when Gaza militants fired some 1,500 rockets at Israel. Whereas Israeli officers claimed successful price of as much as 90 p.c throughout that battle, outdoors specialists had been skeptical.
The system’s interceptors — simply 6 inches vast and 10 toes lengthy — depend on miniature sensors and computerized steering to zero in on short-range rockets. Israel’s bigger interceptors — the Patriot and Arrow programs — can fly longer distances to go after larger threats.
The Iron Dome was upgraded in 2021, however the particulars of the adjustments weren’t made public.
Simply two days after the Oct. 7 assault on Israel, the Israeli authorities requested america to supply extra precision-guided munitions for its fight plane and extra interceptors for its Iron Dome missile protection system, in line with a U.S. official.
Because the loss of life toll within the conflict in Gaza has climbed, Democrats have referred to as for President Biden to chop off the movement of American arms to Israel — or impose situations on their use. Mr. Biden lately hinted that he may put some restrictions on weapons gross sales if his warnings to restrict civilian casualties in Gaza should not heeded however stated defensive weapons just like the Iron Dome would by no means be in jeopardy.
Arrow 3
The Arrow 3, which represents the highest tier of Israel’s multilayered air protection system, is designed to intercept ballistic missiles armed with nuclear and different nonconventional warheads outdoors the earth’s ambiance.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel’s chief army spokesman, stated on Sunday that the Arrow 3 had “proved itself in opposition to a big variety of ballistic missiles” fired by Iran.
The system, developed with substantial funding from america, is a mission of Boeing and the government-owned Israel Aerospace Industries and its subsidiaries, in cooperation with the missile protection companies of the 2 international locations.
The Arrow 3, examined in 2015 when it intercepted a missile flying simply above the ambiance, is an enchancment on its predecessor system, the Arrow 2. The newer model is quicker and might maneuver in house, in line with Israeli officers.
Israel stated final August stated that the U.S. authorities had accredited its request to promote the Arrow 3 system to Germany, setting in movement a $3.5 billion settlement.
