Israel's multi-layered missile defence: Iron Dome, David's Sling and Arrow
Edited By Pragati Awasthi
Published: Jun 13, 2025, 15:44 IST | Updated: Jun 19, 2025, 14:07 IST
Israel has been in a war-like situation with its neighbouring countries for decades now, prompting significant advancements in its defence systems. The country has developed a multi-layered air and missile defence network to counter a wide range of threats, take a look.
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(Photograph: Wikimedia commons)
Iron Dome
Israel's Iron Dome is a shield that protects millions of people. Developed for Israel by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, the Dome is one of the most advanced air defence systems ever used by any country. It effectively intercepts missiles, mortars, and other aerial threats up to 70 km (43 miles).
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(Photograph: AFP)
David’s Sling
Formerly known as Magic Wand, it is a medium-range air defence system that is an integral part of Israel's defence network. With a range of around 40–300 km, it is designed to intercept medium- to long-range rockets, missiles, and cruise missiles. It is co-developed by RTX and Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
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(Photograph: AFP)
Arrow 2
Co-developed by the United States and Israel, the Arrow 2 system is designed to intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at up to 100 km in the upper atmosphere.
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(Photograph: Wikimedia commons)
Arrow 3
Deployed in 2017, Arrow 3 is an exo-atmospheric ballistic missile defence system that oversees the top layer of Israel's defence array. With a range of 2,400 km, it is a hypersonic missile designed to intercept missiles in space.
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(Photograph: Wikimedia commons)
Barak 8 / Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM)
Jointly developed by India’s Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), this long-range surface-to-air missile can target fighter aircraft, helicopters, and subsonic and supersonic missiles up to 70 km away.
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(Photograph: Wikimedia commons)
C-Dome
Israel's C-Dome is the naval version of the Iron Dome. It was used for the first time in 2024 to intercept thousands of rockets fired from Gaza. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, it protects ships from short-range rockets and missiles.
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