Israel’s missile defence shield

Israel’s missile defence shield

Subject: Science and Tech

Section: Defence

Context:

Iron Dome, the highly effective Missile defence system, shot down many rockets fired by Hamas on October 7,but some of them landed in populated areas. While Iron Dome has previously boasted high interception rates, there is uncertainty about its performance in the current conflict due to the overwhelming number of rockets fired.

The Iron Dome:

• Israel’s Iron Dome is a highly effective missile defense system designed to intercept rockets, mortars, and artillery shells. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems of Israel, this system plays a crucial role in safeguarding Israeli citizens from aerial threats.
• Iron Dome is a short-range missile defense system with an intercept range of 2.5 to 43 miles, designed to protect populated areas from incoming projectiles.
• Israel has strategically deployed at least 10 Iron Dome batteries, which can be moved as threats change, making it adaptable and highly mobile.
• The U.S. has provided substantial financial support to Israel for Iron Dome, with a co-production agreement in place. This collaboration includes the manufacture of Tamir interceptors (known as SkyHunter in the U.S.).
• Iron Dome’s targeting system and radar first track the trajectory of incoming projectiles and are designed to fire its Tamir interceptors only at those which are likely to land in populated areas or important areas/targets. In the past, Israel has put Iron Dome’s interception rate at as high as 97%.

The Iron Fortress:

• Layered Air Defense:

• Israel’s missile defense network includes four layers: Iron Dome (short range), David’s Sling (low to mid-range), Arrow II (upper-atmospheric), and Arrow III (exo-atmospheric).
• The U.S. has provided considerable financial support for these defense systems, with the cooperation dating back to 2011.

Arrow 3

• The Arrow 3 interceptor is part of the Arrow Weapon System (AWS) which is the world’s first operational, national, stand-alone ATBM (Anti Tactical Ballistic Missiles) defense system. Based on the uniquely effective Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 interceptors, the Arrow modular air defense systems detect, tracks, intercepts and destroys incoming TBMs carrying a range of warheads and over a large footprint, thereby protecting strategic assets and population centers.
• The innovative Arrow 3 interceptor is designed to intercept and destroy the newest, longer-range threats, especially those carrying weapons of mass destruction.
• Arrow 3 integrates seamlessly into the Arrow Weapon System (AWS) complementing the current and future blocks of the Arrow 2 interceptor, thus enabling upper-tier multiple engagement opportunities

The Indian Angle:

• Israel has an extensive presence in the Indian military ecosystem, especially in air defense. In the past, Iron Dome was pitched to India to tackle threats from across the Line of Control (LoC), especially by terrorist groups.
• However, it did not fructify as India does not face such extremely close-range threats. Instead, the Indian military had expressed interest in the Arrow system. Eventually, India procured some air defence elements and radars to take forward its indigenous Ballistic Missile Defence system.

India’s Ballistic Missile Defence programme

• India’s Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) programme aims to provide an air-defence shield from all types of hostile missiles, even the nuclear ones.
• DRDO is developing a two-tier BMD system to provide a multi-layered shield against ballistic missile attacks.
• The two-tier system is intended to destroy an incoming missile, at a higher altitude, in the exo-atmosphere and if that miscarries, an endo-atmospheric interception will take place.

Two-tires of BMD system:

1.   Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) missile:

• This can intercept and destroy missiles at exo-atmospheric altitudes of 50–180 kilometers.
• It is based on the Prithvi missile. The Pradyumna Ballistic Missile Interceptor is going to replace the Prithvi air defense.

2. Advanced Air Defence (AAD) Missile

• The second layer is the Advanced Air Defence (AAD) Missile for lower altitude interception.
• This is designed to knock down hostile missiles in the endo-atmosphere at altitudes of 15-40 kilometers.
• Akash Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM) is part of AAD.

• India also conducted its first successful anti-satellite (ASAT) test, under Mission Shakti in March 2019.
• India is also getting the Russian S-400 Triumf air defence system.
• S-400 Triumf is one of the world’s most advanced air defence systems that can simultaneously track numerous incoming objects and neutralise them.

Conclusion: Iron Dome is a critical component of Israel’s defense strategy, providing protection against short-range aerial threats. Its adaptability, mobility, and collaboration with the U.S. demonstrate its importance. To ensure its continued effectiveness, further improvements in interception rates and international cooperation are essential. As adversaries evolve their tactics, Israel’s missile defense systems will continue to be analyzed and upgraded to maintain the safety of its citizens.