How Israel’s Multi-Layered Missile Defense Works?

As missile threats intensify across the region, Israel’s multi-layered air defense system has once again taken center stage. Anchored by the well-known Iron Dome, the system is designed to intercept short-range rockets, particularly those launched from Gaza and southern Lebanon.

Iron Dome uses radar to determine whether incoming projectiles threaten populated areas. If so, it launches Tamir interceptors that explode near the target mid-air.

But Iron Dome is just one part of a much broader shield. For more complex and long-range threats, such as Iranian ballistic missiles, Israel relies on the Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 systems.

Arrow-2 intercepts missiles in the atmosphere, while Arrow-3 can destroy them in space. Meanwhile, David’s Sling defends against medium-range threats like ground-to-ground missiles and cruise missiles.

U.S. involvement has added another layer, with the deployment of the THAAD system and naval interceptors assisting in recent Iranian missile barrages. Yet, gaps remain, especially when it comes to low-flying objects like drones and anti-tank missiles, which can evade radar detection.