Israel’s Iron Dome "Leaking Missiles"; Experts Question IDF's Famed Air Defense System

By Rhalialt Arhuoizah

The ongoing co nflict between Israel and Iran has sparked a debate about the effectiveness of Israel's Iron Dome air defense system. Despite its reputation for intercepting incoming threats, the system has been breached by Iranian missiles, causing damage and casualties in Israel.

How the Iron Dome Works

The Iron Dome is designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells. Each battery can cover up to 155 square kilometers and includes three to four launchers with 20 interceptors each. The system costs around $100 million per battery, with each interceptor missile costing $50,000.

Challenges and Limitations

Critics argue that the Iron Dome is not designed to handle long-range ballistic missiles like Iran's Shahab-3 or hypersonic variants. The system's radar and interceptors struggle with high-altitude, high-speed targets. Iran's strategy of overwhelming Israel's defenses with massive salvos of missiles and drones has also exposed vulnerabilities in the system.

Israel's Multilayered Air Defense System

The Iron Dome is part of Israel's multilayered air defense system, which includes the Arrow and David's Sling systems. The Arrow system can intercept long-range ballistic missiles in the exo-atmospheric or high endo-atmospheric phases, while David's Sling targets medium-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.

US Assistance

The US has supplemented Israel's air defenses with its own systems, including Patriot missile defense systems and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems. However, even with US assistance, the air defense systems have not been able to eliminate the threat entirely.

Theories and Speculation

Some military observers suggest that Israel may be deliberately allowing breaches of its air defenses to justify a National Security Council meeting on June 17. The IDF has claimed that the Iron Dome, alongside the Arrow and David's Sling air defense systems, intercepted the "vast majority" of projectiles launched by Iran.

Conclusion

The recent breaches of Israel's air defenses have raised questions about the effectiveness of the Iron Dome system. While the system has been successful in intercepting short-range rockets, it may not be designed to handle the threats posed by long-range ballistic missiles. The conflict has highlighted the limitations and vulnerabilities of even the most advanced air defense systems.