Explained | All about Iran’s arsenal; can Israel guard its territory against future attacks?
Iran in its attack on Israel on Tuesday used sophisticated weapons including hypersonic missiles, increasing the challenge for the latter
In its second attack in a span of six months, Iran on Tuesday (October 1) fired a volley of around 180 missiles into Israel in what is being called its largest military operation against the latter.
The attack which came amid Israel’s war with militant outfit Hezbollah, which Iran backs, also saw the latter country using more sophisticated weapons than that it had deployed during its first direct attack in April.
While the latest attack threatens the onset of a full-blown war, here is how powerful Iran’s missile armoury is and if Israel’s aerial defence systems are well-equipped to intercept future attacks.
Iran’s missile prowess
According to the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Iran is armed with an impressive arsenal of ballistic missiles, the largest in the Middle East.
US Air Force General Kenneth McKenzie had told the Congress in 2023 that Iran has at least 3,000 ballistic missiles in its arsenal. Ballistic missiles, powered by a rocket, fly higher in the atmosphere than artillery rockets. Their trajectory carries them aloft where the warhead payload separates before landing on the target.
Reuters quoting a report by Iran-based media house ISNA in April, said that the country is said to be possession of at least nine missiles which can land in Israel, which is 1,786 km away.
These are ‘Sejil’, a missile which has a speed of over 17,000 km per hour and a range of 2,500 km; and the ‘Kheibar’ and ‘Haj Qasem’ which have a range of 2,000 km and 1,500-2,000 km respectively.
Other ballistic missiles in Iran’s armoury are 'Shahab-1', which has a range of 300 km; the 'Zolfaghar' with a range of 700 km; and 'Shahab-3' (with 800-1,000 km).
The country is also developing missiles like 'Emad-1', which will have a range of up to 2,000 km and 'Sejil' with a range between 1,500 and 2,500 km, Reuters quoted Arms Control Association, a Washington-based NGO as saying.
What missiles were launched into Israel on Oct 1?
Experts say Iran as part of Operation True Promise II launched advanced ballistic missiles into Israel, which are suspected to be a mix of solid and liquid-fuelled projectiles.
Stating that solid-fuelled missiles are more lethal of the duo, the experts suspect that Iran may have fired the ‘Haj Qasem’, ‘Kheibar Shekan’ and ‘Fattah-1’ (a hypersonic missile) missiles from Isfahan into Israel on Tuesday. The liquid-fuelled missiles which are suspected to be used in the offensive are ‘Emad’, ‘Badr’ and ‘Khorramshahr’.
Some weapon experts have also said that the variants of ‘Shahab-3’ ballistic missile, which uses a liquid propellant, could have been used in the latest attack.
Use of hypersonic missiles
Iran is said to have deployed more sophisticated weapons in Tuesday’s attack in comparison to its April’s assault on Israel in which it had used ballistic missiles and drones.
The country used hypersonic missiles for the first time in Tuesday’s attack with an eye on urban settlements near Tel Aviv. April’s attack, however, had only targeted isolated military centres.
Hypersonic missiles can travel five times the speed of sound (6,100 km per hour). Iran presented its first domestically made hypersonic ballistic missiles in June 2023.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that the attack also targeted three Israeli military bases.
While Israel claims most of the missiles were shot down by its aerial defence systems, IRGC has asserted that 90 per cent of the projectiles have hit their targets.
BBC quoting its Jerusalem correspondent also said that restaurants and schools were hit while some military bases are also suspected to have borne the brunt of the attacks.
One of the projectiles have also landed near the headquarters of Israeli intelligence service Mossad near Tel Aviv.
Israel’s Iron Dome, Arrow and David’s Sling
On Tuesday evening, Israel activated its multi-layered security system and sounded sirens for civilians to take shelter in bomb shelters as soon as Iran launched a barrage of missiles from its territory.
Israel has an impressive multi-layered security system – known as the Iron Dome, Arrow and David Sling to intercept such attacks.
Also Read: ‘Iran made big mistake’: Israel vows retaliation for attack at ‘chosen place and time’
While the Iron Dome air defence system, the lowest in the rung, can intercept incoming missiles, mortars, artillery fire and UAV within a distance of 40 miles, the long-range Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 interceptors, can engage threats both inside and outside the atmosphere.
The mid-range David’s Sling can fire down missiles launched from 100-200 km away and has the capability to intercept aircraft, drones and cruise missiles.
Who intercepted Iran’s missiles on Tuesday?
However, Israel’s Missile Defence Organisation (IMDO) told CNN that it is unlikely that the Iron Dome was deployed to intercept the missiles on Tuesday.
While the Iron Dome defended the country during the April attack, it is being said that Israel’s multi-layered defence systems was likely used against Tuesday’s assault.
The US military said it fired at least 12 anti-missile munitions to shoot down the Iranian missiles while some of the projectiles are also said to have been intercepted by Jordan’s air force. UK fighter jets also reportedly chipped in to intercept the incoming Iranian missiles.
How robust is Iron Dome?
Even though the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claims that most of the missiles during Tuesday’s attack were intercepted by Israel’s advanced defence systems, the question is – are Tel Aviv’s aerial defence systems robust enough to guard Israel against future assaults with more sophisticated weapons?
Independent quoting Rafael says that the Iron Dome despite being 90 per cent effective has its limitations.
The report says that the system can get overwhelmed if a barrage of rockets is fired and this can allow some to slip through and cause damage.
Even though the Iron Dome has been a bulwark against the frequent missile attacks by Hamas against Israel, an additional attack by a more-powerful Hezbollah may make it a risky fare. The Hezbollah which is backed by Iran has almost 1.5 lakh rockets and missiles in its arsenal.
Israel’s had vowed to retaliate against Tuesday’s attack, while the US has asked its forces in the region to help shoot down Iranian missiles.
While the US has heavily invested in Israel air defence system, the Joe Biden government has assured Israel that it will ask the Congress for $14.3 billion to help with the country’s air and missile defence systems.
