Latest news with #David'sSling
Mint
2 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Iron dome: How useful is Israel's shield?
America's intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict has not stopped missile exchanges and defence analysts remain agog with how Israel's 'iron dome' has held up as a shield. It hasn't proven foolproof, but Israel claims it has neutralized over 80% of Iran's projectiles. Also Read: Mint Quick Edit | The US blasts in: A forever war in Iran? This dome has three layers. The first, which foiled attacks from Gaza and Lebanon, uses relatively cheap interceptors for short-range volleys. But longer-range Iranian missiles have forced the use of its David's Sling and Arrow systems to intercept cruise and ballistic missile onslaughts with interceptors that cost over $1 million a pop. Also Read: Donald Trump's war dilemma: Should America put boots on the ground in Iran or not? While Iran's fusillades have flagged, rough estimates suggest Israel's shield ran up a nightly ammunition bill that peaked at $300 million. A high strike rate may make this seem worthwhile. Notably, Arrow can stop nukes too. Also Read: Israel-Iran conflict: Echoes of history haunt West Asia Yet, let's not forget why the US shelved its 'Star Wars' plan of the 1980s for a US-wide shield against nukes. While it would've been hugely costly to set up, it could not guarantee that no nuclear warhead would ever get through; no dome could be doom-proof. This drove home the point that, ultimately, peace via diplomacy is a country's only real security.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Israel admits its air defense radars failed to track Iranian missiles a day after blaming faulty sirens
Israel's air defense system on Sunday (June 22) failed to track an Iranian missile barrage which hit Haifa, the country's third-largest city. Taking a complete U-turn from its earlier claim of sirens in Haifa developing an error and not getting activated as the Iranian missiles approached Haifa, the Israel Defense Command on Monday (June 23) admitted that its radar missed to identify the projectile. After a through investigation following an uproar over the missile strike which took place without any warning, the IDF issued a statement. It acknowledged that its radar system suffered a failure and there was no human error involved as the missile landed unannounced. "Last night (Sunday), a joint Home Front Command and IAF examination concluded after examining the impact of a missile in Haifa without an alert during an Iranian missile barrage on Sunday morning. The findings indicate that there was a localized failure in the detection process, and as a result, a missile warhead fell in the Haifa area without an alert. Lessons have been learned from the examination and will be implemented immediately. The IDF continuously learns lessons and, once again, reminds the public that the defense is not hermetic. We emphasize that there was no issue with the Home Front Command's alert system," the IDF stated in a statement on Monday. Also Read: Israel faces massive air defense crunch as Arrow interceptors run low and US stockpiles dwindle The missile flew in unchallenged to punch through the multi-layered Israeli air defense system. As the radars failed to locate and track the missile, the interceptor missiles, too, did not take off to engage the Iranian threat. Live Events The IDF had on Sunday soon after the missile hit blamed its own interceptor missile of causing the damage. The forces has then claimed that Haifa faced no missile threat from Iran as its sirens are triggered by incoming projectiles and not by interceptors. Comprising of the Iron Done, David's Sling , Arrows 2 and 3, as well as the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), the IDF air defense system was successful in shooting down over 90 per cent of Iranian missiles in the first few days of the war following its airstrikes on June 13. Also Read: US B-2 bombers flew 37 hours non-stop, covered over 7000 miles to bomb Iran's nuclear sites But as days progressed the interception rate has come down. A senior Israeli intelligence official told American NBC News that with Iranian missile barrage continuing, the IDF system was able to to stop only about 65% of projectiles now. A report by The Washington Post on June 17 claimed that Israel was running low on interceptors and may run out of such missiles in the next 10-12 days. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Euronews
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
What is the Kheibar Shekan missile, the latest weapon used by Iran?
The IRGC today announced it had deployed the Kheibar Shekan, Iran's latest long-range solid-fuel ballistic missile, indicating that the attack did not include "all armed capabilities yet", signalling the possibility of future escalation. According to state-run news agency IRNA, the Kheibar Shekan missile belongs to the fourth generation of the Khorramshahr family of ballistic missiles, with a range of 1,450 kilometres. It is considered one of the most prominent technical developments in the Iranian missile system, boasting a high degree of accuracy thanks to a satellite guidance system, in addition to manoeuvrable warheads. The high-explosive warhead weighs about 1,500 kilograms and is up to four metres long. At the same time, the missile has a speed of more than 19,500 km/h outside the atmosphere and nearly 9,800 km/h inside it, making it very difficult to intercept even for advanced defence systems such as Patriot and David's Sling. Sequential development The first version of the missile dates back to 2017, when Tehran unveiled the Khorramshahr-1, which was 13 metres long and 1.5 metres in diameter, at a military parade on the occasion of "Holy Defence Week". The second generation "Khorramshahr-2" appeared in 2019, with guided warheads and a total weight of 20 tonnes, followed by the fourth generation "Khorramshahr-4" in May 2023, without Iran revealing the details of the third generation "Khorramshahr-3". However, military sources confirmed that it exists and has advanced capabilities that have not been disclosed for security reasons. The Kheibar Shekan is characterised by design features that reduce its ability to be monitored or intercepted, most notably the absence of ailerons, which reduces the area of friction and increases its speed and accuracy. The missile relies on a local engine called "Arond", which is integrated inside the fuel tank to reduce length and increase camouflage. It is launched from a mobile platform and can be prepared for launch in under 15 minutes. The missile operates in three operational phases: takeoff and flight, then guiding the warhead with rear engines after separation, and ending with entry into the atmosphere, where the final guidance engines are activated while maintaining a speed of more than Mach 8. Symbolic and ideological significance The Kheibar Shekan missile derives its name from Arabic, meaning "Breaker of Khyber", a reference to the historical battle of Khyber between Muslims and Jews in Arabia. Imam Ali bin Abi Talib played a prominent role in the battle, which gives the name special religious significance among the Shiite community, and reinforces the Iranian narratives couching the conflict with Israel in a "historical and ideological" context. The Kheibar Shekan was previously used in the "Sadiq Promise 1" attacks in April 2024 and "Sadiq Promise 2" in October of the same year, according to Western media reports, reflecting Iran's increasing reliance on this model in its long-range operations.
Euronews
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
What is Iran's Kheibar Shekan missile, carrying ideological payload?
The IRGC today announced it had deployed the Kheibar Shekan, Iran's latest long-range solid-fuel ballistic missile, indicating that the attack did not include "all armed capabilities yet", signalling the possibility of future escalation. According to IRNA, the Kheibar Shekan missile belongs to the fourth generation of the Khorramshahr family of ballistic missiles, with a range of 1,450 kilometres. It is considered one of the most prominent technical developments in the Iranian missile system, as it has a degree of accuracy thanks to a satellite guidance system, in addition to manoeuvrable warheads. The high-explosive warhead weighs about 1,500 kilograms and is up to four metres long, while the missile has a speed of more than 19,500 km/h outside the atmosphere and nearly 9,800 km/h inside it, making it very difficult to intercept even for advanced defence systems such as Patriot and David's Sling. Sequential development The first version of the missile dates back to 2017, when Tehran unveiled the Khorramshahr-1, which was 13 metres long and 1.5 metres in diameter, at a military parade on the occasion of "Holy Defence Week". The second generation "Khorramshahr-2" appeared in 2019, with guided warheads and a total weight of 20 tonnes, followed by the fourth generation "Khorramshahr-4" in May 2023, without Iran revealing the details of the third generation "Khorramshahr-3", although military sources confirmed that it exists and has advanced capabilities that have not been disclosed for security reasons. The Kheibar Shekan is characterised by design features that reduce its ability to be monitored or intercepted, most notably the absence of ailerons, which reduces the area of friction and increases its speed and accuracy. The missile relies on a local engine called "Arond", which was integrated inside the fuel tank to reduce the length and increase camouflage, and is launched from a mobile platform and prepared for launch in less than 15 minutes. The missile operates in three operational phases: take-off and flight, then guiding the warhead with rear engines after separation, and ending with entering the atmosphere where the final guidance engines are activated while maintaining a speed of more than Mach 8. Symbolic and ideological significance The Kheibar Shekan missile derives Its name from Arabic meaning "Breaker of Khyber", a reference to the historical battle of Khyber between Muslims and Jews in Arabia. Imam Ali bin Abi Talib played a prominent role in the batle, which gives the name special religious significance among the Shiite community, and reinforces the Iranian narratives couching the conflict with Israel in a "historical and ideological" context. The Kheibar Shekan was previously used in the "Sadiq Promise 1" attacks in April 2024 and "Sadiq Promise 2" in October of the same year, according to Western media reports, reflecting Iran's increasing reliance on this model in its long-range operations.
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.
