Air raid sirens went off across Israel after Iran launched a barrage of drones and missiles in its first direct attack on Israeli soil. Similar airstrikes took place last year when Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and carried out air and ground attacks.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, “Dozens of Iranian surface-to-surface missiles were identified as approaching Israeli territory. The IDF Air Defense Array successfully intercepted the Aero Air Defense System. intercepted most of the launches using Israel’s strategic systems. Allies, before they entered Israeli territory.”

Videos on social media platforms show the air defense system, along with the Iron Dome system, fending off aerial threats. The night sky was lit up by multiple explosions across Israel, with tensions between the regional powers showing no signs of easing.

What is Aero-Aerial Defense System?

Israel’s aerospace industries teamed up with the US Missile Defense Agency to develop the Aero Defense System, a surface-to-surface missile system that forms the upper tier of Israel’s multi-layered air defense system. Development began in the late 1980s as a joint effort between Israel and the United States. A technology demonstration of the Arrow 1 system in the 1990s led to at least seven flight tests and was developed into a lighter missile called the Arrow 2, which was added in 2000.

The addition of Aero-2 missiles to its air defense arsenal gave Israel the ability to intercept short- and medium-range missiles in an upper-air strike-and-kill style. Its purpose is to neutralize the incoming missile before its descent phase.

Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Aero Defense System form a layered defense system. The Iron Dome system, which has been combat-tested in the past, was actively deployed to intercept drones and short-range threats.

Read more: How Hamas overtook Israel’s Iron Dome, nearly impenetrable air defenses

How does an arrow defense system work?

The Aero-2 was added to the air defense arsenal in 2000, and the advanced Aero-3 system is intended to destroy long-range targets in the air. The rocket has a two-stage solid propellant booster that enables it to reach speeds of Mach 9 (nine times the speed of sound).

The defense system consists of a missile launcher, an EL/M-2080 Green Pine Fire Control Radar (FCR), a Hazelnut Tree Launch Control Center (LCC), and a Citron Tree Battle Management Center. The Green Pine radar provides long-range target detection capability and can intercept multiple targets, allowing the missile to hit up to 14 targets. FCR can also combat electronic jamming of the system. The radar provides an effective range of 2,400 km and can engage targets at an altitude of 100 km.

The radar continuously detects threats approaching the area. Once a target is detected, real-time information is sent to the control center about the target’s estimated speed, its speed, and if the missile is moving toward a strategic target such as cities or military installations, when the missile will be launched. Is.

The missile is launched vertically, and a two-stage booster powers the rocket to Mach 9. If it fails to hit the target, the fragmentation warhead can detonate within 40 meters of the target.

Aero rockets are based on the principle of using kinetic energy as a weapon of destruction. The hypersonic speed of aero rockets may allow it to be used as an anti-satellite weapon. The Aero Defense System is compatible with the US Patriot Missile Defense System providing interoperability. Missiles can be launched from silos, canisters, and each launcher consists of six missiles.

The Aero-3 defense system is the latest addition to Israel’s air defense capabilities to deter long-range threats. It was first tested in 2015 and was used in November last year when it successfully intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired from the Red Sea by the Houthis in Yemen.

Arrow 3 rockets neutralize targets in the outer atmosphere before entering the ballistic missile’s re-entry phase. Videos on social media platforms show the Aerosystem intercepting Iranian missiles in outer space.

Unlike conventional hit-and-kill rocket technology that relies on liquid or gas propulsion, the Arrow 3 has a conventional rocket motor, and once launched, its speed can be adjusted. Although Arrow 3 is the latest addition, in April 2021, Israel admitted that it had failed to intercept Syrian missiles on several occasions.

The United States has funded about half of the annual development costs of the Arrow 2 system. By 2020, the total US financial contribution to the Arrow Weapon System exceeded $3.7 billion.