CNN
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Iran and Israel have been trading strikes since Friday, when Israel first attacked Iranian military forces and nuclear targets.
As tensions grow in the Middle East, Israel will once again transform into a massive air defense system that includes the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, the Arrow System and the US THAAD system, protecting citizens from incoming air attacks across a range of areas.
Missile defense systems are one of the most important tools in Israel’s arsenal, and have saved countless civilian lives in various conflicts over the past decade, analysts say.
Development of Iron Dome was first launched in 2007. After testing in 2008 and 2009, the first iron dome battery was deployed in 2011. The system has since been upgraded several times.
The iron dome is designed to shoot down low-level incoming projectiles. It is equipped with radars to detect rockets, and then uses a command and control system that quickly calculates whether an incoming projectile poses a threat or could hit an unstoppable area. If a rocket poses a threat, the iron dome launches missiles from the ground and destroys them in the air.
For those on the ground, direct interception sounds like a loud cry, and sometimes you can feel it from the ground.
According to Raytheon and the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Israel has 10 iron dome batteries, each containing 3-4 launchers. The system is very transportable and requires only a few hours to set up. Additionally, the missile interceptor itself is very maneuverable. They are 3 meters (nearly 10 feet), and are long. Approximately 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter; Security Analysis Group IHS Jane said in 2012.
The warhead is believed to carry 11 kilograms of high explosives, Ihs Jane said. Its ranges from 4 to 70 kilometers (2.5 to 43 miles).
During the war, the cost of operating iron domes can rise rapidly. Each missile costs around $40,000, which adds up thousands of incoming rockets.
The US government has spent more than $2.9 billion on the Iron Dome program, according to Congressional Research Services.
David’s sling and arrows
David’s Sling, a joint project between Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and US defense giant Raytheon, uses hit interceptors of target and skyceptor motion speed to take targets 186 miles away, according to the missile threat project of the Center for International and Strategic Research (CSIS).
On top of David’s sling, Israeli Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 Systems are jointly developed with the United States.
Arrow 2 uses fragmented warheads to destroy ballistic missiles coming in as they dive towards the target, according to CSIS. According to the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, the range of Arrow 2 has 56 miles and a maximum altitude of 32 miles. This was called the American Patriot Missile Defense Israel Upgrade, known as Arrow 2, and was once used in this role.
Meanwhile, Arrow 3 uses Kill technology from Hit to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in space before re-entering into the atmosphere on its way to the target.
Israel included cutting-edge fighter jets, including the F-35i stealth jet, according to news reports.
Israeli missile defenses are defenses of the US Army’s terminal highlands, or systems that the Biden administration sent to Israel last October after previous Iranian missiles struck the country.
“Do Iran again need to choose to (attack) with more ballistic missiles? THAAD adds capabilities to Israeli air defense,” then Pentagon reporter Sabrina Singh said in October last year. “It helps to shoot them (ballistic missiles) down and protect innocent civilians there, including Americans in Israel,” she added.
Similar to Arrow 3, the THAAD system employs hit technology to attract targets in a range of 150-200 km (93-124 miles).
The THAAD battery consists of 95 soldiers, six launchers mounted on a truck with eight interceptors each, monitoring and control radars, and fire control and communications units.