Israel has some of the most advanced air defenses in the world and state-of-the-art systems that have defended and continue to defend its troops and citizens from missiles and all kinds of attacks. Air defense is essential to Israel's security as much of the population is within firing range of rockets and missiles fired by Hamas, Hezbollah, and ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthis. These defenses are expensive, which is why Israeli officials a few months ago amended the 2024 budget and allocated $15 billion in military spending.
US foreign aid to Israel
About 15% of Israel's defense budget comes from the US. Since its founding in 1948, the US has sent Israel approximately $300 billion in economic and military aid, making it the largest recipient of US foreign aid.
Almost all of the aid the US has sent in recent months has gone to its advanced defense systems and military equipment. But America's involvement in Israel's war on the Gaza Strip is seen as controversial as on the one hand the US provides limited humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in Gaza and on the other it provides military support and arms to Israel.
ISRAEL'S SECURITY SYSTEMS
Iron Dome
Israel's best-known air defense system, Iron Dome consists of a network of radar detectors and missile launchers used to intercept enemy fire, including short-range missiles.
How Iron Dome works
Deployed in southern Israel in 2011 after the war between Israel and Hezbollah, the US assisted and funded the development of the short-range missile defense system. They contributed at least $1,6 billion to the Iron Dome system from 2011 to 2021, plus another billion in 2022.
The first level of defense
The Israel Defense Forces stated "that the purpose of Iron Dome is to protect Israeli citizens from the constant threat of rockets by intercepting them." The IDF described the Iron Dome with three adjectives: "Precision, speed and capable."
Armed with Tamir interceptor missiles, the multi-mission defense system can shoot down enemy rockets and artillery up to 43,5 miles away. The advanced missile system has a radar station that detects and tracks the path of enemy missiles before launching a missile to intercept them. The missiles track their target with electro-optical sensors and detonate in mid-air when they approach.
Although the Iron Dome does not have a perfect interception record, it has intercepted the majority of enemy fire into Israeli airspace, especially during periods of heavy fire from Hamas fighters. But Iron Dome is only one level of what is considered one of the most advanced air defense systems in the world. Missiles have a much longer range than projectiles, but have the disadvantage of being expensive as well. The Tamir missiles launched from Iron Dome are estimated to cost around $50.000 each.
David's Sling
The middle layer of the defense system is David's Sling, a medium- and long-range air defense system designed to intercept rockets launched from up to 185 miles away. Also known as the Magic Wand, the versatile missile system carries up to 12 interceptors. Its command and control center provides threat assessment, plans and controls interception, complemented by the system's multi-mission radar used to detect and locate aerial threats.
The middle layer of defense
Developed in collaboration with the US and Israel, David's Sling is "a central player in Israel's multi-layered defense arrangement," according to Israel's Defense Ministry, supporting the other layers of its air defense system, "countering large-caliber rockets, ballistic missiles short range' and other types of enemy fire.
Arrow weapon system
The top layer of Israel's sophisticated air defense system is the Arrow-3, capable of engaging targets at longer distances and higher altitudes, as well as more accurately intercepting ballistic missiles.
The Arrow-3 interceptor operates the Arrow Weapon System, the world's first operational, national, autonomous ballistic missile defense system, according to Israel Aerospace Industries, the AWS prime contractor.
The Arrow-3 works in conjunction with its predecessor, the Arrow-2, to intercept ballistic missiles and other nuclear warheads using a two-stage interceptor.
Arrow-3
The Arrow-3 interceptor "is a world-class missile that, together with the Arrow-2, significantly expands the defense capabilities of the State of Israel," according to Israel's Defense Ministry.
In November 2023, Israel confirmed the first operational use of the Arrow-3 to intercept an incoming enemy missile fired by Houthi fighters from Yemen, marking the first time that all three levels of Israel's air defenses were operating simultaneously.
"All of this provides protection at every layer of air defense and allows for optimal protection of the Israeli home front," the IDF said in a statement at the time.
C-Dome
Israel's air defense system is not limited to land. The country also has a naval version of the Iron Dome system, mounting it on top of Israeli missile launchers.
The naval version of the air defense system, known as C-Dome, is being deployed on Sa'ar 6-class corvettes, four German-built warships ordered for the Israeli navy.
In addition to the C-Dome, the Sa'ar 6 boats are also equipped with a 76mm Oto Melara Super Rapid main gun, which is effective against close air threats.
Rocket ships
After two years of development, the Israeli military announced that the sea defense system was used for the first time to intercept a "suspicious aerial target" that entered Israeli airspace near the city of Eilat, which is a frequent target of Yemen's Houthi rebels. Hamas.
"Overnight, for the first time in history, an IDF Sa'ar 6-class corvette missile ship successfully intercepted a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) that had approached from the east and passed into the Gulf of Eilat area ,” the IDF reported.
The Israeli naval fleet also includes 11 other warships in addition to the four Sa'ar 6-class corvettes, as well as five Dolphin-class submarines.
SPYDER
To further bolster its air defenses, Israel is also considering a new "integrated" surface-to-air missile system called SPYDER, which is manufactured by Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
Israel, in collaboration with Rafael, is testing a new configuration of the weapons system, taking the missile launcher, radar, command and control system, and surveillance and target acquisition technology and placing them in an eight-wheeled vehicle.
"The SPYDER AiO was developed to address the critical operational needs of the modern battlefield, and provides a flexible, autonomous, anti-aircraft weapon capable of rapid deployment within minutes, in challenging terrain and with short reaction times," according to a Rafael news release .
All-in-one missile system
Designed to carry up to eight canister missiles, including the I-Derby SR, I-Derby ER and Python-5 SR, it can engage up to four targets simultaneously, with a maximum range of up to 24,8 miles and an altitude of up to 7,4, XNUMX miles, according to the prospectus.
Rafael's SPYDER air defense system, in its All-In-One configuration, achieved a direct and effective hit during a recent, first of its kind test with the Israeli Ministry of Defense DDR&D. Watch the live fire test here: [YouTube Link] Another milestone in our commitment to… pic.twitter.com/FvU2iS7t5u
— Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (@RAFAELdefense) January 10, 2024
In January, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced a successful test of the new configuration of the weapon system, which is capable of intercepting drones, aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles and precision munitions.
Source: First Topic