Israel’s Multi-Layered Air Defence System: Arrow, Iron Dome, Iron Beam & THAAD

Rising United States–Iran tensions have renewed focus on Israel’s multi-layered air defence system amid fears of potential ballistic missile retaliation.

Various Facets of Israel’s Multi-Layered Air Defence System

• Long-range Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 interceptors:
  • Designed Against Iranian Missile Threat: These are developed by Israel with an Iranian missile threat in mind, and are designed to engage incoming targets both in and outside the atmosphere respectively. 
  • High-Altitude Interception Capability: They operate at an altitude that allows for safe dispersal of any non-conventional warheads.
  • Industrial Collaboration & Production: State-owned Israel Aerospace Industries is the project’s main contractor while Boeing BA.N is involved in producing the interceptors.
• David’s Sling system:
  • Target Range: It is designed to shoot down ballistic missiles fired from 100 km to 200 km (62-124 miles) away.
  • Manufactured By: Developed and manufactured jointly by Israel’s state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and RTX Corp.
  • Interception: It is also designed to intercept aircraft, drones and cruise missiles. 
• Iron Dome Air Defence System: 
  • Countering Short-Range Rocket Threats: The short-range Iron Dome was built to intercept rockets fired by the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas in Gaza.
  • Operationalisation & U.S. Support: Developed with U.S. backing, it became operational in 2011. 
    • Each truck-towed unit fires radar-guided missiles to blow up short-range threats such as rockets, mortars and drones in mid-air.
  • Naval Variant Deployment: A naval version of the Iron Dome, to protect ships and sea-based assets, was deployed in 2017.
  • Expanded Interception Range: Originally designed to protect cities from rockets with ranges between 4 km and 70 km, experts note that its effective operational range has since been expanded.
• Iron Beam:
  • Development & Operational Status: Iron Beam is a ground-based, high-power laser air defence system developed by Israel over more than a decade and declared fully operational in late 2025.
  • Countering Small Aerial Threats: It is designed to intercept smaller aerial threats such as UAVs (drones) and mortars.
  • Laser-Based Interception Mechanism: Iron Beam uses directed energy lasers to super-heat and disable incoming aerial threats mid-air.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Its operation is expected to be significantly cheaper than traditional missile-based interception systems, as it does not rely on expensive interceptor missiles.
• U.S. THAAD System:
  • Deployment to Israel: In October 2024, the United States deployed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to Israel to enhance its ballistic missile defence capabilities.
  • Role in U.S. Missile Defence Architecture: THAAD is a critical part of the U.S. military’s air defences.
  • Terminal-Phase Interception Capability: It is designed to intercept and destroy short, medium and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats in their terminal phase of flight.
• Air to Air Defence: Israeli combat helicopters and fighter jets have used air-to-air missiles to intercept and destroy drones approaching Israel.

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