Israel would have received greater damage without the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow 2/3.
Several of Iran’s ballistic missile barrages struck Israeli military bases during the 12-day war between the two countries last month. According to a report published by the British broadcaster The Telegraph, satellite data released by Oregon State University suggests that Israel’s Tel Nof airbase, Zipporit armor base, the Glilot intelligence base, and two other military assets were struck by a total of six rockets during the war. Despite this radar data and reports, the damage inflicted by these direct hits was actually less severe than the impact caused in the October 2024 exchange of violence between Iran and Israel. However, due to strict censorship laws pertaining to sharing war-related information, the Israel Defense Forces has yet to confirm the findings of The Telegraph’s report. Israel’s unmatched tiered air defense systems undoubtedly prevented more significant casualties and damage during the war.
The Iron Dome
Arguably the crux of Israel’s air defense strategy, the Iron Dome has single-handedly saved countless lives in Israel since its introduction by steadily intercepting the slew of short-range rockets and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched by Iran’s regional proxy groups. Since the Dome is capable of detecting and taking out projectiles fired from distances of roughly 2 miles to 43 miles away, the vast majority of barrages launched by Israel’s hostile neighbors fall within this threshold. Iron Dome batteries are positioned throughout Israel, each containing three or four launchers comprised of 20 interceptor missiles each. With a successful interception rate of more than 90 percent, the Iron Dome has proved to be a significant player in Israel’s defensive apparatus over the years.
David’s Sling
The second tier of Israel’s air defense system is David’s Sling. This two-state missile was named to pay homage to the biblical account of David and Goliath. Working alongside the Iron Dome, David’s Sling is designed to be able to intercept and destroy longer-range rockets, cruise missiles, and other sophisticated UAVs from distances of up to 300km. This mid-tier component of Israel’s air defense strategy is comprised of a vertical firing unit, a battle management operator station, an EML-2084 fire control radar, and, perhaps most significantly, a Stunner interceptor. Notably, each David’s Sling “Stunner” missile costs about $1,000,000. According to the manufacturer of this defense system, Raytheon, the Stunner missile is able to thwart at least 92 percent of the worldwide ballistic missile threat inventory.
Arrow 2/3
Israel’s Arrow 2/Arrow 3 system represents the newest tier to Israel’s layered air defense strategy. This short/medium range anti-ballistic air defense system was jointly developed by Israel’s Aerospace Industries and the United States following a memorandum of understanding signed between the two nations in the mid-1980s. The Arrow 2/3 systems are designed to engage threats both in and outside the atmosphere. Last year, Arrow 3 notably achieved the first-ever missile interception in space, proving its worth in countering ballistic missile barrages.
While all of Israel’s tiered air defenses are impressive and cutting-edge, they are not completely infallible. However, the aftermath of the 12-day war would have been a lot more deadly for Israel without the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow 2/3.
About the author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, a Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.
Image: Gal_Rotem / Shutterstock.com
