Israel destroyed Iran missiles in air, what is Israel's exoatmospheric interception which has left everyone in shock?
Israel-Iran war: Israel's multilayered air defense system, especially the Iron Dome, is already recognised as one of the best in the world, and now the Jewish state has achieved another stunning feat using its state-of-the-art Arrow 3 hypersonic anti-ballistic missile interceptor, reportedly intercepting an Iranian ballistic missile at an altitude of 100 kilometers. What is exoatmospheric interception?
Exoatmospheric interception essentially means the capability to intercept aerial threats, including ballistic missiles and attack drones, beyond the earth's atmosphere or space, so that the debris burns up before falling to the ground, causing minimal or no damage.
The Arrow 3, also known as the Hetz 3, is Israel's missile defense system, developed, funded, and produced jointly by Israel and the United States. Arrow 3 is described as an 'exoatmospheric hypersonic anti-ballistic missile' that has the capability to intercept ballistic missiles, including ICBM carrying conventional or nuclear warheads, outside the earth's atmosphere.
The hypersonic anti-ballistic missile has divert motor capability, allowing its kill vehicle to switch directions with ease. The Arrow 3 missile, which has a flight range of up to 2,400 km, can also be used to take out enemy satellites as its equipped with sensors which allow to make a 90-degree turn to detect approaching satellites. Israel's famed air defense system
Israel is known for its 'impenetrable', multi-layered air defense system, which includes its famous Iron Dome for intercepting short-range missiles and rockets, David's Sling for medium-range missiles, and the Arrow II and III systems, meant to intercept long-range ballistic missiles.
In contrast, Iran's air defenses are much weaker compared to its nemesis, with the Bavar-373 (a domestic version of Russian S-300), being its main line of defense against aerial threats, which is augmented by the indigenously built Khordad-15 and Talash-3 system, all of whom pale in comparison to Israel's advanced aerial defense network.
The Arrow 3 has been in service since 2017. Israel-Iran war
Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles and attack drones on Israel following the latter's fiercest airstrikes on the Islamic nation on Friday that killed several top Iranian nuclear scientists and military commanders, including IRGC chief Hossein Salami, commander Ghulam-Ali Rashid, nuclear scientist Dr. Mohammad Tehranchi, nuclear scientist Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi and Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri.
Since then, both sides have traded airstrikes and missile/drone attacks, causing extensive damage to each other's cities.
On the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, Iran responded with a barrage of missiles and drones that struck several Israeli cities and major population centers, including Tel Aviv. Israel launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran on Saturday, killing more of Iran's top military brass and nuclear scientists.
Meanwhile, Israel, under its Operation Lion, conducted more airstrikes on Iran on early Saturday morning, killing more of Iran's top military brass and nuclear scientists. Israel also targeted Iran's oil refineries in a series of pre-dawn airstrikes on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.
Iran responded with another wave of missiles and drones that reportedly killed 10 Israeli civilians, and caused significant damage to infrastructure.
However, the damage inflicted on Israel could have been far worse if not for its advanced, multi-layered air defense system, including the Arrow 3.
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