Drone Defense with "Patriot"
The oldest component of Israel's air defenses are the US-made Patriot systems. During the Persian Gulf War in 1991, they were used against the Scud missiles. from Iraq. However, the Israeli armed forces considered that the system alone was not sufficient and announced that they would develop an anti-missile shield themselves.
Today, Israel uses an adapted version of the “Patriot” - type MIM-104D under the name “Yahalom“ (in Hebrew “diamond“) for protection from drones. In 2014 and 2018, there were reports of downed “Yahalom“ two Syrian military aircraft – one over the Golan Heights, which have been annexed by Israel for decades, and one over Israeli airspace, ARD recalls.
"Arrow" against long-range missiles
The defense system, called “Strela”, has a range of 2,400 km and can also intercept missiles in the stratosphere. It was designed jointly with the US in the late 1980s and has since been further developed, resulting in Israel now using “Strela 2” and “Arrow 3”, and is now developing “Arrow 4”. One module “Arrow“ includes radar system, guidance system and missile launcher.
In the current war in Gaza, rockets fired by Houthi fighters from Yemen are intercepted precisely by the “Arrow” systems. In the Iranian missile attack in April, the fastest and highest flying missiles were also destroyed by "Strela 3" missiles.
"Iron Dome" against artillery shells
"The Iron Dome" is designed to protect Israel from artillery shells and missiles with a short range of up to 17 kilometers. It consists of at least ten defense units, each of which has three components: a radar system, a control center that calculates the trajectory of the approaching threat, and mobile launchers for interceptor missiles.
According to Israel, thousands of rockets have been intercepted since its launch in 2011. The manufacturer – the state arms company "Rafael Defense Systems" gives the “Iron Dome” 90% success rate. The system was also used in the Iranian attack in April 2024. In August 2019, the US signed a contract to purchase two Iron Dome units to strengthen its own air defense against short-range missiles.
"David's sling" against medium-range
missiles
In order to be protected also against medium-range missiles, Israel jointly developed the “David's Sling“ defense system with the American defense company Raytheon. (“David“) with interceptor missiles “Stunner“, which provide reliable protection against long-range artillery missiles and short-range ballistic missiles. The radius of action of the system is about 25 km.
It was first used in 2018, and in 2023 – and against a "Badr 3" rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in the direction of Tel Aviv, as well as against a rocket of the terrorist organization Hamas on October 7. In 2023, Finland announced that it had ordered a “David’s sling defense system from Israel” for its armed forces.
„Iron Beam": with laser power against missiles
Since at least 2010, Israel has been developing an additional high-energy laser system to intercept projectiles and flying objects such as drones at short ranges using a phaser laser. Originally planned as a mobile system, a stationary version is now being developed, which will be put into operation in 2025.
According to the Ministry of Defense “Iron Beam“ it will also be used on a trial basis in the fight against the terrorist organization Hamas along the southern border of the Gaza Strip.