Israel employs a variety of systems to defend against attacks, ranging from ballistic missiles that exit the atmosphere to low-flying cruise missiles and rockets.
The highly effective Iron Dome system, which targets incoming rockets and artillery, has garnered significant attention.
However, according to the country’s Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), the Iron Dome is the foundational layer of Israel’s missile defense and was not the system deployed against the ballistic missiles launched on Tuesday night.
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The next level in Israel’s missile defense is David’s Sling, designed to counter short- and medium-range threats.
Developed collaboratively by Israel’s RAFAEL Advanced Defense System and U.S. defense giant Raytheon, David’s Sling employs Stunner and SkyCeptor kinetic hit-to-kill interceptors capable of engaging targets up to 186 miles away, according to the Missile Threat Project at CSIS.
Above David’s Sling are the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems, which were jointly developed with the United States.
The Arrow 2 utilizes fragmentation warheads to neutralize incoming ballistic missiles during their terminal phase as they descend toward their targets in the upper atmosphere.
It has a range of 56 miles and a maximum altitude of 32 miles, with the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance describing it as an upgrade to the U.S. Patriot missile defense system that Israel previously employed.
In contrast, the Arrow 3 employs hit-to-kill technology to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in space before they reenter the atmosphere en route to their targets.
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During the Tuesday night attack, the U.S. military reported firing at least 12 anti-missile munitions against the incoming Iranian missiles.
This response was launched from the Navy guided-missile destroyers USS Cole and USS Bulkeley, which were operating in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, as stated by Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
While the Pentagon did not specify the interceptors used, the U.S. destroyers are equipped with the Aegis ballistic missile defense system, which can target and destroy incoming ballistic missiles in their mid-course or terminal phases.
Additionally, Jordan’s air force intercepted Iranian missiles during the same attack, according to a Jordanian official, although no further details were provided.
In a previous Iranian attack on Israel in April, Israeli and U.S. warplanes successfully intercepted many incoming Iranian munitions.
However, that assault primarily involved slower-moving drones, which were significantly easier to intercept than the ballistic warheads that fall vertically toward their targets in Israel.
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