Israel’s April 19 small-scale missile attack on an Iranian airbase came after an aerial assault by Iran on April 13. Despite Iran launching over 300 drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, no Israelis were killed and physical damage was minimal. Iran claimed the attack caused little damage, but provided no information on casualties.
Analysts warn that future missile exchanges probably will be more severe, as missile defense technology is still far from foolproof. In a war between major powers, such systems wouldn’t perform nearly as well. Iran’s methods made it easier for Israel to mount its defense. Israel knew the attack was coming and had time to line up support from the United States. The attack started not with rocket-powered ballistic missiles but with slow-flying drones. These weapons can be targeted by anti-missile interceptors like Israel’s famous Iron Dome system or the US Patriot system, but also by human pilots in fighter planes.
However, there’s some uncertainty about how well Israel defended itself against Iran’s ballistic missiles. Israel’s Arrow-2 system is designed to shoot down such missiles. While Israel claimed that an Arrow-2 shot down an Iranian-made missile launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen, experts remain skeptical. Some believe Iran used its least-reliable missiles in the attack to avoid provoking an all-out war. Others question the effectiveness of the Arrow-2 system and claim that successful intercepts may have been exaggerated.
Even if the Arrow-2 is highly effective, Israel has a limited number, each costing around $2 million. An enemy launching a far greater number of ballistic missiles could quickly deplete Israel’s stockpile, leaving it defenseless against missile attack. Nations are working to develop systems that would use lasers to shoot down incoming missiles, but practical anti-missile lasers are still a long way off.
In conclusion, while Israel’s missile defense systems proved effective in the recent attack, future exchanges may be more challenging. Defense technology has limitations, and in major power conflicts, such systems may not perform as well. Nations must continue to invest in research and development to enhance their missile defense capabilities.
