Analysis of "CNN" / How Israel and allied defenses shot down more than 300 Iranian missiles and drones

2024-04-14 12:05:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Analysis of "CNN" / How Israel and allied defenses shot down more than

Almost all ballistic missiles and drones fired by Iran at Israel in an unprecedented attack were shot down without hitting their targets, according to Israeli and US officials, underscoring the formidable, multi-layered missile defenses deployed by the two allied partners.

Most of the more than 300 Iranian munitions, most of which are believed to have been launched from inside Iranian territory during the five-hour attack, were intercepted before they reached Israel, more than 1,100 miles (1,770 kilometers) from the launch site. theirs.

The Israeli military said on Sunday that "99%" of the missiles fired by Iran were intercepted by Israel and its partners, with only a small number of ballistic missiles reaching Israel.

In total, about 170 drones, more than 150 missiles were fired at Israel by Iran overnight, the military said.

US President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that this was a victory for Israel as nothing of "value" was hit.

US officials said more than 70 drones and three ballistic missiles were intercepted by US Navy warships and aircraft, without detailing exactly which defenses were used to shoot down the missiles.

The US Navy shot down at least three ballistic missiles using the Aegis missile defense system aboard two guided-missile destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean, Pentagon officials told CNN's Oren Liebermann.

US warplanes also shot down Iranian munitions, Liebermann reported. While it was not disclosed where those US aircraft were operating from, there are US Navy aircraft carriers and land-based aircraft well within range of the region.

Biden said in a statement that the US was well prepared to help defend Israel against Iranian attack.

Britain said it was also prepared to intervene using Royal Air Force aircraft it has in the region.

"These UK aircraft will intercept any air strikes within the range of our existing missions, as required," a Ministry of Defense statement said.

An Israeli military spokesman also said France was involved in blocking Iranian attacks.

Analysis of "CNN" / How Israel and allied defenses shot down more than

"We are working closely with the US, UK and France who acted tonight. This partnership has always been close, but tonight it appeared in an unusual way," said the spokesman.

Meanwhile, Israel operates a variety of systems to block attacks from everything from ballistic missiles with trajectories that carry them above the atmosphere to cruise missiles and low-flying missiles.

Israel's Iron Dome system has often been in the headlines since the country launched its military offensive in Gaza in response to the October 7 Hamas attacks inside Israel that ignited current hostilities in the region.

Iron Dome is Israel's missile defense force, according to the country's Missile Defense Organization (IMDO).

There are at least 10 Iron Dome batteries in Israel, each equipped with a radar that detects the missiles and then uses a command and control system that quickly calculates whether an incoming projectile poses a threat or is likely to hit an unpopulated area. If the missile poses a threat, Iron Dome launches missiles from the ground to destroy it in the air. The next step up the missile defense ladder is David's Sling, which protects against short- and medium-range threats, according to IMDO.

David's Sling, a joint project of Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense System and US defense giant Raytheon, uses the Stunner and SkyCeptor kinetic strike-to-kill interceptors to take out targets up to 186 miles away, according to the Missile Threat Project at the Center for International and Strategic Studies (CSIS).

Above David's Sling are Israel's Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems, developed jointly with the United States.

Arrow 2 uses fragmentation warheads to destroy incoming ballistic missiles in their terminal stage as they dive toward their targets, according to CSIS. The Arrow 2 has a range of 56 miles and a maximum altitude of 32 miles, according to the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, which called the Arrow 2 an upgrade on the U.S. Patriot missile defense that Israel once used in this role.

Meanwhile, Arrow 3 uses hit-to-kill technology to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in space before they re-enter their path to targets.

According to news reports, Israel also has state-of-the-art fighter jets, including F-35I stealth jets that it has used to shoot down drones and missiles.

Ballistic missiles that reached Israel hit the Netavim air base in southern Israel, Israel's military spokesman said, adding that they caused only minor structural damage. The base was functioning and continuing its operations after the attack.

Photos released by the Israeli Air Force early Sunday showed F-35 and F-15 fighter jets returning to their bases in Israel after what it called successful "intercepts" and "air defense missions."

Some of the drones and missiles fired at Israel were fired from Iraq and Yemen, the spokesman added./ CNA