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Business Insider
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Israel's top ballistic missile shield proved itself against Iran. Now, a next-gen update is on the way.
Israel's top ballistic missile defenses, the country's Arrow systems, will soon get a next-generation interceptor to keep pace with growing threats, the manufacturer told Business Insider this week. Since last year, Arrow has shielded Israel from three rounds of substantial bombardment by Iranian missiles — the most recent of which was only days ago — and many smaller-scale attacks by the Tehran-backed Houthi rebels. Boaz Levy, the CEO of state-run Israel Aerospace Industries, said in an interview that the company is working on developing a new interceptor missile for Arrow, and it's about to go into the production phase. Arrow is a highly advanced air defense system jointly produced by IAI and the US aerospace contractor Boeing. The first iteration of this system, Arrow 2, was deployed in 2000 and is able to intercept missiles in the upper atmosphere. The newer Arrow 3 became operational in 2017 and can hit targets in space. Both Arrow systems use a two-stage solid-fueled interceptor to shoot down incoming ballistic missiles, and together, they make up the top tier of Israel's sophisticated air defense network, which also includes the well-known Iron Dome system and David's Sling. The system has been in service for many years now. Since Arrow 2 was deployed, IAI has continuously sought to increase its capabilities, first by supplementing it with Arrow 3, and now by working on the future Arrow 4 and Arrow 5, Levy, the Arrow chief engineer, said. "We have the production line, and we have the capability, and we also have the know-how to transfer to the operational unit," he said. The early concept work for Arrow 4 — which is a joint US-Israeli project like its predecessors — began in 2017. The interceptor is now in the final stages of development and will soon enter the initial production phase. Final production rates will eventually be decided by Israel's Ministry of Defense, Levy said. He declined to provide a timeline, though he did disclose that "we are about to conclude the development, and it's only a matter of time until we start the production." Arrow 4 will eventually replace the decades-old Arrow 2. Levy explained the system will have a more enhanced "shoot-look-shoot" capacity, referring to the air defense strategy of engaging a target, reviewing the results, and then engaging again if necessary. In many cases, operators may fire two interceptors to engage a single incoming missile. "This is the new generation," he said, sharing the new technology and electronics will increase Arrow's interception capabilities with the same system it's been using for years. Arrow 5 will eventually be even more advanced than Arrow 4. Israel's Arrow systems have seen extensive combat since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel, most notably in three major clashes with Iran — in April 2024, October 2024, and then earlier this month. Tehran has launched at least 850 ballistic missiles at Israel over the course of these three clashes, and Arrow, alongside Israel's other defense systems and US forces in the region, intercepted most of the threats. The exact number of Iranian missiles that Arrow has shot down is unknown, but Levy said an initial analysis of the latest clash revealed the systems intercepted at least 90% of the threats it targeted. The Arrow systems have also frequently been tasked with shooting down missiles launched by the Houthis in Yemen. All these engagements, from Iran to the rebel group, have provided IAI with valuable data to help it develop the new interceptors. "It's a regular procedure that we are doing. Of course, we are testing all of our capabilities through real-time simulations. And of course, any data available to us is a tool to analyze our system's capabilities," Levy said.
Business Insider
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
How Israel used Iran's massive attacks to enhance its top ballistic missile shield
Israel's top ballistic missile defense system, Arrow, has played a key role against Iran's missiles. Arrow's maker said it intercepted most of the missiles it engaged during the latest clash between Israel and Iran. The CEO of Arrow's manufacturer told BI that it has been upgraded since its first battle with Iran. Israel's top ballistic missile defenses — its Arrow systems — were just tested in their third-ever direct conflict with Iran. The first two battles last year helped the manufacturer prepare for this latest fight, the toughest yet. Boaz Levy, the CEO of the state-run Israel Aerospace Industries, told Business Insider in an interview on Wednesday that the company is "analyzing each missile attack" against Israel on a case-by-case basis, whether it's a single shot or a barrage of fire. "We do have lessons learned about system operation, about threat capabilities, and more," he said. The highly advanced Arrow systems are a joint product of IAI and the US aerospace contractor Boeing. Arrow 2, which was first deployed in 2000, can intercept missiles in the upper atmosphere. The newer Arrow 3 became operational in 2017 and can hit targets in space. Both of the Arrow systems use a two-stage solid-fueled interceptor to destroy incoming ballistic missiles. Together, they make up the top echelon of Israel's vaunted air defense network, the most famous part of which is Iron Dome for combating rockets, mortars, and artillery. The Arrow systems have seen combat over the years, but they faced an unprecedented test in April 2024 when Iran fired some 120 ballistic missiles at Israel as part of a huge attack with cruise missiles and drones. Nearly all the threats were shot down. Arrow then defended against another large-scale barrage in early October when Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel. And over the following months, the system has frequently been used to intercept missiles launched by the Tehran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Levy, Arrow's chief engineer, explained that all these engagements ultimately helped prepare Arrow for its most significant test yet: the most recent conflict with Iran, which fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel over a 12-day stretch. He said IAI develops Arrow in a "building blocks mechanism, which means that, every now and then, we are upgrading the system capability, utilizing a new building block." "During this time, between April last year to this attack, we did have several upgradations of the systems," he said. "I believe that this is the right way to deal with it. So yes, we had lessons learned, and we improved the systems accordingly." "It's a software change that will lead us to a better capability," he added. The latest conflict began on June 13, when Israeli officials announced the start of a new operation to degrade Iran's nuclear program and its military capabilities. Israel then carried out sweeping airstrikes across the country over the next week and a half. Iran retaliated by launching over 550 ballistic missiles and more than 1,000 drones at Israel, the latest Israeli government data shows. Most of those munitions were intercepted by air defenses. Levy declined to say how many Iranian missiles Arrow engaged. But he said an initial analysis revealed that the systems intercepted at least 90% of the missiles that it targeted since June 13. "I think that Arrow performed as expected," Levy said. Israel said the Iranian missiles have caused over 50 impact sites across the country. Some missiles are allowed to go through if the impact site is irrelevant, but Iranian weapons have also, at times, made it through to strike civilian areas. US Navy destroyers positioned in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea also provided air defense support for Israel in the latest conflict, as have American ground forces based in the Middle East. Available air defense assets in the region include MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile batteries and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. US officials have not disclosed exactly how many Iranian missiles American forces shot down. Washington has provided air defense for Israel during all three of its clashes with Tehran. Levy hailed the air defense partnership between Israel and the US, describing it as "the right way to deal with a ballistic missile attack. I believe that this collaboration and coalition between allies is the right solution for that, especially when we are speaking about salvos," referring to large waves of attacks. The US military joined Israel's offensive campaign last weekend, using stealth aircraft and a guided-missile submarine to launch airstrikes on three of Iran's top nuclear facilities. Tehran retaliated on Monday by firing a volley of missiles at a major American base in Qatar. That retaliation was neutralized by the Patriot systems. Later that day, as Israel and Iran continued to trade attacks, President Donald Trump announced that the two countries had agreed to a ceasefire. Several days later, the fragile deal appears to be holding up.
NDTV
21-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Explained: Israel's Air Defence System Against Iranian Missiles
Israel and Iran launched fresh attacks at each other early on Saturday, with the conflict between the two regional foes showing no signs of slowing or ending. Not at least for now. Visuals of damaged buildings from Tel Aviv, Haifa and parts of Jerusalem have made many question if Israel's multi-layered air defence system is good enough for a long fight. The Israeli air defence system, despite its sophistication, is not impenetrable, as the current conflict has shown. So, what does this air defence system have? Iron Dome One of the most recognised components of Israel's defensive umbrella is the Iron Dome, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in partnership with Israel Aerospace Industries. In service since 2011, it is designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells. The system uses radar and threat-assessment algorithms to calculate whether an incoming projectile poses a risk to civilian areas. Only if it does, the system launches a Tamir interceptor missile to destroy the threat mid-air. Israeli officials claim the Iron Dome has a success rate exceeding 90%, although some experts have raised questions about its effectiveness against newer, more unpredictable threats, reported the Washington Post. David's Sling For more distant threats, Israel relies on David's Sling, which has been operational since 2017. The system, developed jointly with American defence giant Raytheon, is engineered to take down medium to long-range ballistic and cruise missiles, those usually fired from distances between 40 and 300 kilometres. Arrow System The Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems constitute the uppermost layer of Israel's defence grid, designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles, particularly those that travel outside Earth's atmosphere. Arrow 2 relies on explosive warheads to destroy targets, while Arrow 3 eliminates threats by sheer kinetic force, without explosives. The Arrow system is geared towards neutralising the kind of long-range, high-velocity projectiles Iran has increasingly relied upon. Israel's Challenges Israel said that Iran has launched over 1,000 projectiles since June 13. The Iranian arsenal includes both cruise missiles and ballistic missiles capable of reaching Israel in just 12 minutes. These projectiles are capable of descending at hypersonic speeds. To counter the threat, Israel has been striking Iranian drone depots, missile launchers and production sites. Some analysts believe that Iran may now be depleting its stockpile, reported the Washington Post. International Support The US has also played a behind-the-scenes role. According to US defence officials, American-operated Patriot and THAAD missile systems intercepted incoming Iranian projectiles on June 13. The American contribution is part of a broader history of defence cooperation, which includes joint development of systems like David's Sling and Arrow 3. While Israel's air defence system has long shown its effectiveness, the ongoing conflict has exposed vulnerabilities under the strain of continuous and large-scale attacks.
MTV Lebanon
21-06-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
US Races to Defend Israel as It Burns Through Missile Interceptors
The U.S. is racing to reinforce Israel's defenses, sending more warships capable of shooting down ballistic missiles to the region as Iranian attacks drain Israel's stocks of interceptors. An additional U.S. Navy destroyer arrived in the eastern Mediterranean on Friday, joining three others in the area and two in the Red Sea. The ships are operating close enough to Israel to be able to intercept missiles fired by Iran, a defense official said. Most of the U.S.'s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers are armed with a range of interceptors, known as SM-2, SM-3 and SM-6, that can shoot down ballistic missiles and other aerial threats. SM-3s, first used in combat last year to counter an Iranian attack, are designed to intercept missiles above the atmosphere in the middle of their flight paths. The U.S. has also replenished stocks of ground-based interceptors for the Thaad antimissile system it set up in Israel last year. Formally known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, the system is operated by the U.S. Army and designed to intercept missiles inside or outside the atmosphere during their final phase of flight, known as the terminal phase. The surge of seaborne- and ground-based missile defenses underscores the concerns about Israel's dwindling supplies of the armaments. Israel risks exhausting its supply of high-end Arrow 3 interceptors in the coming weeks if its conflict with Iran isn't resolved and Tehran continues to launch volleys of missiles, a U.S. official said. Israel uses several different systems to provide a multilayered defense of the country. The well-known Iron Dome works on shorter-range rockets and drones. David's Sling intercepts missiles, planes and drones at a greater distance. The Arrow 3 is the crown jewel, designed to intercept missiles above the Earth's atmosphere. It can neutralize threats before they cross into Israeli airspace and give other systems time to act if the first shot misses. 'Without Arrow 3, it's problematic,' said Timur Kadyshev, a researcher at the University of Hamburg who has studied the Arrow system. 'You have less time to shoot down an incoming missile because you're shooting them only in the terminal phase.' Israel Aerospace Industries, the company that makes Arrow interceptors, didn't respond to requests for comment. Israel's armed forces also declined to comment on interceptor stockpiles, but said the military is ready to handle any scenario. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview Thursday with Israel's public broadcaster Kan, declined to answer whether Israel was running out of Arrow 3 interceptors. 'I would always like more and more,' Netanyahu said. He estimated that Israel has destroyed around half of Iran's missile launchers since the current conflict began, thereby diminishing the threat posed by Iran's missile arsenal. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Trump had approved attack plans for Iran, but was holding off on giving the final order to see if Tehran would abandon its nuclear program through diplomacy. The waiting period will keep the onus on Israel to continue the fight even as its ability to defend against missile attacks runs down. 'There's no time to lose, and two weeks is a very long time,' said Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Israel is using its control of the skies over western Iran to take out more missiles before they are launched. Its air superiority could also force Iran to fire from farther away, which means using liquid-fueled missiles that take more time to get ready, making them more vulnerable to attack. Still, Tehran has continued to fire volleys of missiles at Israeli population centers. If Iran keeps up its attacks, Israel in the coming days might be forced to make difficult decisions about husbanding its resources and giving priority to which missiles to intercept, Kadyshev said. The U.S. is facing its own concerns about supplies of interceptors. Supplies diverted to the conflict in the Middle East are coming at the expense of those available in the event of a bigger conflict with China. 'We are concerned for the number remaining for the high-end fight,' said a U.S. officer who has operated in the Middle East. 'SM-3s will start running low at this pace of operations, cutting into reserves for the next kinetic engagement.' The U.S. might also face tough decisions about how many interceptors to exhaust if the fighting drags on. It rushed missile defenses to its Persian Gulf partners after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel kicked off what would become more than a year and a half of war. Those defenses are politically and militarily important. Gulf countries have pressed the U.S. to take a more active role in their defense, and Iran has threatened to hit American bases in the Gulf and elsewhere in the region if the U.S. joins Israel in the attack. Israel's conflict with Iran is costing the country hundreds of millions of dollars a day, according to early estimates, a price tag that could constrain Israel's ability to conduct a lengthy war.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
'$12 billion a month': The cost of Israel's daily strikes and defence against Iran - war at a premium
Israel is spending hundreds of millions of dollars each day in its escalating conflict with Iran, with the cost of interceptors, munitions, air operations, and infrastructure damage mounting rapidly, according to The Wall Street Journal. The daily military expenditure could run as high as $200 million just for missile interceptions, with broader operational costs and infrastructure damage driving that figure significantly higher. Experts estimate that rebuilding damage caused by Iranian missile strikes could alone cost Israel at least $400 million. Former Bank of Israel governor Karnit Flug warned that while the economy may absorb the costs of a short conflict, a prolonged war could be far more damaging. 'If it is a week, it is one thing,' she said. 'If it is two weeks or a month, it is a very different story.' The financial toll is being driven in large part by the heavy use of Israel's air defence systems. The David's Sling system, used to intercept short- and long-range threats, costs around $700,000 per activation when firing its minimum of two interceptors. The Arrow 3 system, designed to stop long-range ballistic missiles, costs around $4 million per interception, while Arrow 2 costs approximately $3 million, according to military analyst Yehoshua Kalisky. The conflict has seen more than 400 Iranian missiles fired at Israel in recent days, most of which required interception. The cost of deploying fighter jets—particularly F-35s—adds further pressure. Each hour of flight costs around $10,000 per aircraft. The cost of fuel, munitions like JDAMs and MK84s, and logistics for long-range missions all contribute to Israel's spiralling war bill. Zvi Eckstein, head of the Aaron Institute for Economic Policy, noted that 'per day, it is much more expensive than the war in Gaza or with Hezbollah,' citing the overwhelming burden of ammunition and interceptor usage. His institute estimates that a one-month war with Iran could cost Israel around $12 billion. Despite the sharp military spending, Israel's economy has not entered recession. However, disruptions are widespread. Civilian life has slowed, with many businesses—including restaurants—closed, and only essential workers reporting to duty. The country's main international airport was shut for several days before partially reopening for return flights. On Monday, S&P Global released a risk assessment of the Israel-Iran conflict but left Israel's credit outlook unchanged. Surprisingly, Israeli stock markets rose on Wednesday, with investors betting on the resilience of the economy and a possible swift end to the hostilities. Economists point to Israel's past ability to weather prolonged conflicts, including the 20-month war in Gaza. However, the destruction inflicted by Iranian missile attacks is severe. Structural engineer Eyal Shalev said the damage caused by large ballistic missiles is worse than anything seen in recent conflicts. Hundreds of buildings have been destroyed or heavily damaged, with repair costs expected to run into the hundreds of millions. Meanwhile, Ynet News also reported that Brigadier General (res.) Re'em Aminach, a former senior defence official and IDF financial consultant, estimated that Israel spent about $1.45 billion during the initial two days of combat. Of this, around $593 million went toward offensive operations, such as airstrikes and flight hours, and the rest to defensive measures like missile interception and reservist mobilisation. 'These are direct costs only,' Aminach said. 'The indirect costs — including impact on GDP — cannot be measured at this stage.' The finance ministry has already lowered its GDP growth forecast for 2025 from 4.3% to 3.6% and warned that the existing emergency reserve, mostly depleted by the war in Gaza, does not account for a concurrent conflict with Iran. Israel's deficit ceiling for the year is 4.9% of GDP, or roughly $27.6 billion, which could now be under pressure as the war drags on.
