In the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, Israel has just deployed a new defense system along with the Iron Dome to protect itself from Iran’s missiles and drones.
In terms of defense system, Israel is far ahead of Iran. Israel has small and large missile defense systems ranging from short range to long range.
Iran has the largest number of ballistic missiles in the Middle East while Israel is the most powerful country in the Middle East and is capable of changing the course of any war on the basis of its modern and high technology. The distance between Israel and Iran is about 2100 to 2300 km.
Israel has a missile named Jericho III whose range is approximately 4800 to 6500 kilometers, while Iran has a missile named KH 55 which is a cruise missile whose range is approximately 3000 km.
Look, both countries have good missiles but what matters is whose defense system is more powerful. In today’s article, we will talk about Israel’s defense system.
Iron Dome Defence system
The Iron Dome Defense System was built in 2011 as a joint effort by Israel and the United States of America. This defense system is supposed to be the best defense system of Israel. The Iron Dome has the ability to intercept short range rocket, mortars and shells. The range of this defense system is from 4 km to 70 km.
Iron Dome is made up of three components, first is radar, second is command and control post and third is interceptor. Now we will understand one by one what are the functions of these three components.
First of all, the radar works to detect and monitor any threats coming within a range of 100 km, and to identify those threats.
After this, the command and control post analyzes the speed and trajectory of the incoming threat.
The work of the interceptor is to destroy the incoming target in the air itself. Iron Dome first destroys incoming targets that are likely to fall in populated areas.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, the Iron Dome has the capability to destroy about 90% of the targets in the incoming threat. The cost of the Tamir missile fitted on the Iron Dome is approximately 50,000 US dollars.
David’s Sling Defence system
After Iron Dome, the second most advanced missile Defence system Is David’s Sling which has the capability to intercept short to medium range and medium to long range missiles with a range of about 300 kilometres. “Magic Wand” is the second name of this defence system.
This defense system can intercept long range rockets, cruise missiles and long range ballistic missiles.
This defense system has also been built by Israel and America and it was made operational in 2017.
This defense system has a missile named Stunner which costs 1 million US dollars and like Iron Dome, this defense system also first destroys the target coming in the populated area. Both Iron Dome and David’s Sling are capable of destroying aircraft, cruise missiles and drones.
The Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 Defence system
Apart from Iron Dome and David’s Sling, Israel also has Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 Defence system. First of all, we know about the Arrow 2 missile defense system. This defense system is designed to destroy short and medium range ballistic missiles flying in the atmosphere at a height of 50 km above the earth.
This system detects missiles coming from 500 km away and destroys them within 100 km. The speed of the missile fitted in this system is 9 Mech which can destroy about 14 targets at a time.
Work on the Arrow 2 missile defense system began in 1991 and it was made operational in 2000 and was first used in 2017.
Arrow 3 missile defense:- This defense system is designed to stop long range ballistic missiles and its range is approximately 2400 km.
This system has been built with the help of Israel Aerospace Industries and Boeing Company of America and it was first used in 2023.
Iran has a medium range ballistic missile named Fatah whose range is 1500 km and its speed is 15 mech. To stop such medium range ballistic missile, Arrow 3 missile defense system is used.
THAAD Defence system
This defense system works like a David’s Sling with a range of 150 to 200 km which has the capability to intercept enemy missiles inside and outside the earth.
Its one battery consists of about 6 missile launchers and one launcher has about 8 missiles. America has been using this system since 2015 and has also provided this system to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
Barak Magen Defence system
This is a naval air defense system built by Israel Aerospace Industry. Its purpose is to protect the country from drones, missiles, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles fired from naval warships. Its range is up to 150 km. The radar installed in it tracks 360 degree targets and has the ability to detect them.
This defense system can be installed on various naval platforms and it is effective in destroying drone swarms. Its use has recently been introduced by Israel in June 2025.
| Defence System | Made By | Made In / Operational Year | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Dome | US and Israel | 2011 | 70 km |
| David’s Sling | Israel and USA | 2017 | 300 km |
| Arrow 2 Defence System | Israel | 2000 | 100 km |
| Arrow 3 Defence System | Israel | Not Specified | 3000 km |
| THAAD Defence System | United States | 2015 | 150 km |
| Barak Magen Defence System | Israel | 2025 | 150–200 km |
Conclusion
If Iran has a stockpile of missiles, Israel has a stockpile of defense systems. Apart from the iron dome and Barak Magan defence system, Israel also has defence systems like the Iron Beam whose range is from 7 km to 4.3 miles and defence systems like the iron beam are much cheaper than other defence systems.
Whatever defence system there is, all their working systems are similar, just the range and capability of the radar and missiles installed in them can be different.