Even Israel's Famed Air Defence System Is Not Enough To Stop Hypersonic Missiles
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According to defence expert Ravi Gupta, the only strategy against hypersonic missiles is to launch multiple supersonic interceptors, hoping one successfully hits the target
As Israel and Iran traded strikes for the fifth consecutive day, their fiercest face-off yet, the conflict has spotlighted the vital role—and limits—of air defence systems like the Iron Dome amid rising missile threats.
Israel's Iron Dome has played a key role in intercepting a barrage of rockets and missiles fired by Hamas, Hezbollah, and even Iran, shielding civilian areas from major damage. However, with the growing use of more sophisticated threats—such as hypersonic and ballistic missiles—the Iron Dome, along with other systems like Arrow, is facing increasing pressure, raising fresh concerns about the limits of current defence capabilities in the face of evolving missile technology.
In October 2024, Iran launched around 200 ballistic and hypersonic missiles, raising concerns about the efficacy of current defence systems against such advanced weaponry.
Ravi Gupta, a former spokesperson and scientist at DRDO, explained that while ballistic missiles can be detected and intercepted due to their prolonged presence in the air after launch, tracking and neutralising hypersonic missiles is much more complex. These missiles travel at speeds starting from 5 Mach, making them extremely difficult to intercept with current technology.
Why Hypersonic Missiles Are Difficult To Intercept
Iran's hypersonic missiles have inflicted substantial damage in various parts of Israel, underscoring the lethality of these weapons. Hypersonic missiles, which can travel up to 10 Mach, are challenging to detect and engage. The speed of a hypersonic missile, which can reach around 6173 kilometres per hour, makes interception nearly impossible with existing systems.
The aerial distance between Israel and Iran is approximately 2,000 kilometers. Some missiles can travel at speeds up to Mach 10—ten times the speed of sound—posing a significant challenge to air defence systems.
Gupta noted that intercepting a hypersonic missile would require either a hypersonic air defence system or a faster interceptor missile capable of speeds between 10 and 25 Mach, neither of which are currently available. At present, no country possesses an interceptor capable of reliably countering such high-speed threats. A single supersonic interceptor missile is insufficient to engage targets moving at hypersonic speeds.
The only strategy against hypersonic missiles involves deploying multiple supersonic interceptors, hoping that at least one might hit the target.
Why Ballistic Missiles Can Be Intercepted
According to Gupta, ballistic missiles may vary in range, but all operate on the same basic principle. Once launched, they travel into the exoatmosphere—essentially into space—and then descend along a parabolic trajectory, dictated by the laws of physics, to strike their target. As they re-enter the Earth's atmosphere, their speed can reach up to Mach 25, placing them firmly in the high hypersonic category.
Since ballistic missiles travel through the air for a significant duration, radar systems can detect their launch early. This allows for the calculation of their likely impact point, enabling the launch of anti-ballistic missiles to intercept them mid-flight.
According to Gupta, when a ballistic missile begins its descent, it drops like a stone under the influence of gravity, with none of its rocket motors active for manoeuvring. This makes it impossible to spoof or divert. However, it can still be intercepted using a well-timed anti-ballistic missile.
Does Israel Have A Solution for Ballistic Missiles?
Israel has only one solution for ballistic missiles—and it lies in the strength of its layered air defence system, which is highly effective against short-range rockets, drones, and missiles. The country also deploys anti-ballistic interceptors like David's Sling, Arrow-2, and Arrow-3 to counter short and medium-range ballistic and cruise missiles. Additionally, the US supplied Israel with the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system in 2024. These systems are currently being used to intercept ballistic missiles launched by Iran, capable of targeting them both within the atmosphere and in the exoatmosphere.
However, when it comes to hypersonic missiles, no nation has found a concrete solution yet.
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