Latest news with #Arrow2
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
'$12 billion a month': The cost of Israel's daily strikes and defence against Iran - war at a premium
Israel is spending hundreds of millions of dollars each day in its escalating conflict with Iran, with the cost of interceptors, munitions, air operations, and infrastructure damage mounting rapidly, according to The Wall Street Journal. The daily military expenditure could run as high as $200 million just for missile interceptions, with broader operational costs and infrastructure damage driving that figure significantly higher. Experts estimate that rebuilding damage caused by Iranian missile strikes could alone cost Israel at least $400 million. Former Bank of Israel governor Karnit Flug warned that while the economy may absorb the costs of a short conflict, a prolonged war could be far more damaging. 'If it is a week, it is one thing,' she said. 'If it is two weeks or a month, it is a very different story.' The financial toll is being driven in large part by the heavy use of Israel's air defence systems. The David's Sling system, used to intercept short- and long-range threats, costs around $700,000 per activation when firing its minimum of two interceptors. The Arrow 3 system, designed to stop long-range ballistic missiles, costs around $4 million per interception, while Arrow 2 costs approximately $3 million, according to military analyst Yehoshua Kalisky. The conflict has seen more than 400 Iranian missiles fired at Israel in recent days, most of which required interception. The cost of deploying fighter jets—particularly F-35s—adds further pressure. Each hour of flight costs around $10,000 per aircraft. The cost of fuel, munitions like JDAMs and MK84s, and logistics for long-range missions all contribute to Israel's spiralling war bill. Zvi Eckstein, head of the Aaron Institute for Economic Policy, noted that 'per day, it is much more expensive than the war in Gaza or with Hezbollah,' citing the overwhelming burden of ammunition and interceptor usage. His institute estimates that a one-month war with Iran could cost Israel around $12 billion. Despite the sharp military spending, Israel's economy has not entered recession. However, disruptions are widespread. Civilian life has slowed, with many businesses—including restaurants—closed, and only essential workers reporting to duty. The country's main international airport was shut for several days before partially reopening for return flights. On Monday, S&P Global released a risk assessment of the Israel-Iran conflict but left Israel's credit outlook unchanged. Surprisingly, Israeli stock markets rose on Wednesday, with investors betting on the resilience of the economy and a possible swift end to the hostilities. Economists point to Israel's past ability to weather prolonged conflicts, including the 20-month war in Gaza. However, the destruction inflicted by Iranian missile attacks is severe. Structural engineer Eyal Shalev said the damage caused by large ballistic missiles is worse than anything seen in recent conflicts. Hundreds of buildings have been destroyed or heavily damaged, with repair costs expected to run into the hundreds of millions. Meanwhile, Ynet News also reported that Brigadier General (res.) Re'em Aminach, a former senior defence official and IDF financial consultant, estimated that Israel spent about $1.45 billion during the initial two days of combat. Of this, around $593 million went toward offensive operations, such as airstrikes and flight hours, and the rest to defensive measures like missile interception and reservist mobilisation. 'These are direct costs only,' Aminach said. 'The indirect costs — including impact on GDP — cannot be measured at this stage.' The finance ministry has already lowered its GDP growth forecast for 2025 from 4.3% to 3.6% and warned that the existing emergency reserve, mostly depleted by the war in Gaza, does not account for a concurrent conflict with Iran. Israel's deficit ceiling for the year is 4.9% of GDP, or roughly $27.6 billion, which could now be under pressure as the war drags on.
News18
14 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Iron Dome, Arrow, David's Sling: How Has Iran Penetrated Israel's Famed Air Defence Systems?
Last Updated: Although Israeli figures suggest these penetrations are limited in success rate, they have raised questions about the vulnerabilities of even the most advanced air defence networks Despite possessing one of the world's most sophisticated and multi-layered air defence systems, Israel has experienced breaches by some of Iran's missiles in the recent conflict escalation. Although Israeli figures suggest these penetrations are limited in success rate, they have raised questions about the vulnerabilities of even the most advanced air defence networks when confronted with a determined and tactically diverse opponent. Saturation attacks Iran has primarily challenged Israel's aerial defences through saturation attacks, launching numerous missiles and drones in waves. Israel's defence system consists of several tiers: the Iron Dome for short-range rockets, David's Sling for medium-range missiles and cruise missiles, and the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems for long-range ballistic missiles, intercepting them at higher altitudes or even in space. While each system boasts high interception rates for their intended targets, the sheer number of projectiles can overwhelm even the most robust defense. By firing hundreds of projectiles simultaneously, Iran aims to deplete Israel's interceptor missiles and create gaps in its defensive shield, allowing some projectiles to penetrate. Attack diversity Additionally, Iran has utilised a diverse array of projectiles with varying flight characteristics, complicating interception efforts. These include a large number of slower, low-flying drones that serve to distract or saturate defences, as well as faster, higher-flying ballistic missiles. The combination of different speeds and flight paths creates a multidimensional threat that can confuse and overtax air defence coordination. Advanced tactics Reports have also indicated Iran's use of more technologically advanced missiles and tactics. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed to employ a novel technique where missiles are guided in a manner that causes Israeli interceptor missiles to target each other, effectively confusing Israel's integrated defence system. While the exact details of this 'spoofing" tactic are not fully disclosed, it suggests an attempt to exploit potential weaknesses in the target acquisition and engagement logic of Israel's interceptors. Some Iranian missiles are believed to employ manoeuvrable re-entry vehicles (MaRV) or release decoys, further complicating interception by making their trajectories unpredictable. Air defence costs The sheer cost and finite supply of interceptors for Israel's defence systems also play a role. While systems like Iron Dome have a relatively lower cost per interceptor, the more advanced Arrow and David's Sling interceptors are significantly more expensive. A prolonged, high-volume assault by Iran forces Israel to expend these valuable munitions rapidly, potentially leading to a strain on their inventory over time. This economic attrition can influence defensive decisions, as Israel may choose not to intercept projectiles assessed to be heading for unpopulated areas, effectively 'leaking" some missiles by design to conserve resources. Leakage rate Finally, while Israel's defence systems are among the world's best, no system is entirely impenetrable. Even with high interception rates (Israel has stated 80-90% for ballistic missiles), a 5-10% 'leakage" rate on a massive volley can still result in numerous impacts, especially when targeting densely populated civilian areas or critical military infrastructure like the Kirya compound in Tel Aviv, which has seen 'significant damage." This inherent limitation, coupled with Iran's evolving missile capabilities and tactical sophistication, has allowed Tehran to achieve some level of penetration, inflicting damage and underscoring the formidable challenge posed by large-scale, multi-faceted missile attacks. News explainers Iron Dome, Arrow, David's Sling: How Has Iran Penetrated Israel's Famed Air Defence Systems?
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Israel running low on missile interceptors as conflict with Iran continues: Report
Israel is running low on the defensive Arrow interceptors, according to a report in Wall Street Journal that cited an unnamed US official, raising concerns about Israel's ability to counter long-range ballistic missiles from Iran if the conflict continues. The report also claimed that US has been aware of the capacity of problems for months and Washington has been augmenting Israel's defenses with systems on the ground, at sea and in the air. The report also stated that since the escalation of conflict in June, Pentagon has sent missile defense assets in the region. However now there is a concern that US is also burning through their supply of interceptrs as well. Director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that neither the US nor Israel can 'continue to sit and intercept missiles all day.' He also said that Israel and his allies need to move with haste to do whatever needs to be done, and that they 'cannot afford to sit and play catch. Meanwhile, Israel Aerospace Industries, the company that makes Arrow interceptors, did not respond requests about comments on the matter. The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that, ' IDF is prepared and ready to handle any scenario. Unfortunately, we are unable to comment on matters related to munitions.' The Arrow missile defence system, comprises of Arrow-2 and Arrow-3. This system is designed to intercept ballistic missiles beyond the earth's atmosphere. It employs a detachable warhead that collides with its target, neutralising potential threats before they can reach populated areas. The other layers of Israel's defense system include David's Sling, and the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 interceptors. The US Army also has similar defense systems as Israel, it has the Patriot PAC-3 (comparable to David's Sling) and THAAD (comparable to Arrow 2), while the US Navy has the Aegis and the SM-3 (comparable to Arrow 3).
