Getting to know the defense systems that keep Israel safe from Iranian threats

• Published date: 14 April 2024
• Author: SETH J. FRANTZMAN
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

99% of the threats launched towards Israeli territory were intercepted - a very significant strategic achievement," the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement

Israel intercepted the majority of the threats using various types of weapon systems. For instance, the surface-to-surface missiles that were launched were intercepted by the Arrow air defense system "together with Israel's strategic allies, before the launches crossed into Israeli territory," the IDF noted. In addition, the IDF noted that there were numerous drones, "as well as dozens of cruise missiles" that targeted Israel.

"Dozens of IAF fighter jets" were used to intercept some of these threats. The IDF showed F-35 fifth-generation warplanes landing in the wake of the air defense mission.

Israel has a variety of air defenses that it was able to use to defend the country against this unprecedented threat. What follows is a look at Israel's air defense array.

Arrow

The Arrow air defense system is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missile threats. The Arrow program dates from the 1980s when countries such as Iraq acquired Scud surface-to-surface missiles that could threaten Israel. The Arrow program was backed by the US and jointly developed by Israel and the US. The system went through several generations, eventually reaching the modern Arrow 3. Arrow 3 was first deployed in 2017. That system saw its first operational interception in November 2023, soon after a successful first interception by the older Arrow 2.

"The Arrow 3 system is co-developed and co-produced by the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) in the Israel Ministry of Defense and the United States Missile Defense Agency (MDA), led by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is one of the most advanced air and missile defense systems of its kind in the world for the interception of exo-atmospheric ballistic missiles," the IDF notes.

It can intercept exo-atmospheric threats, meaning ballistic missiles that exit and re-enter the atmosphere. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is the primary contractor for the system. "Elbit Systems is responsible for the development of the BMC system.

Tomer and Rafael Advanced Systems are the main subcontractors for the development and production of the 'Arrow 3' interceptor," the IDF notes.

The Arrow system uses the Green Pine radar. This radar system was developed by IAI's Elta subsidiary in the 1990s. It was used successfully during the recent conflict to defend Israel against threats...