The recent friction between Israel and Iran has captured worldwide attention. Marked by Israel's 'Operation Rising Lion' beginning on June 13, 2025, the operation entailed massive air strikes on Iran’s nuclear, military, and oil facilities. Iran retaliated with over 100 ballistic missiles and drones against Israel. Both nations showcased their cutting-edge armaments, featuring missiles, drones, hypersonic weapons, and combat aircraft. Let’s delve into these formidable weapons and their capabilities...
Israel's Armaments
Israel boasts some of the world’s most advanced military technologies deriving from both U.S.-supplied weaponry and self-developed defense systems. Here's a rundown of key Israeli weapons and their attributes:
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1. Fighter Jets
F-35I 'Adir'
Source: aajtak
Features:
A stealth aircraft from Lockheed Martin, capable of flying at a speed of approximately 1,975 km/h with a range of 2,200 km without refueling. Equipped with Python and Derby missiles, laser-guided bombs, and an electro-optical targeting system (EOTS). The pilot's helmet provides a 360-degree view and targeting insights.
Usage:
Utilized by Israel for precision strikes on Iranian targets, operational since 2018, adept at neutralizing Houthi drones and missiles.
Cost:
Approximately $120 million per aircraft.
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F-15I 'Ra’am'
Features:
An Israeli version of Boeing’s F-15E Strike Eagle, capable of flying up to 3,500 km with a payload capacity of 11 tons. It includes JDAM bombs and AMRAAM missiles.
Usage:
Effective for long-range attacks and air defense, used in assaults on Iran.
F-16I 'Sufa'
Features:
A multi-role aircraft from Lockheed Martin, speed: 2,400 km/h, range: 3,200 km, capable of carrying GBU-39 small-diameter bombs and Spike missiles.
Usage:
Employed for precision strikes on Iranian targets and drone destruction.
2. Missiles
Jericho-3
Source: aajtak
Features:
Long-range ballistic missile of Israel, range: 4,800–6,500 km, capable of carrying up to 1,000 kg explosives. Potential to deliver nuclear payloads (not confirmed by Israel). Used for targeting distant locations like Iran.
Spike
Features:
Precision-guided anti-tank missile, NLOS version can reach up to 30 km, operates in “fire-and-forget” mode. Used by Mossad to neutralize Iranian air defenses.
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GBU-39/B Slim Bomb
Features:
A small, precise bomb launched from F-16 and F-35, range: 110 km, weight: 130 kg, used in strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites.
3. Drones
Heron
Source: aajtak
Features:
Surveillance drone from Israel Aerospace Industries, capable of flying for 52 hours, reaching altitudes of 10,000 meters, carries missiles and sensors, used for intelligence gathering and strikes in Iran.
Explosive Drones
Features:
Small, cost-effective drones carrying explosives, used by Mossad to target Iranian air defense systems.
4. Defense Systems
Iron Dome
Features:
A system for intercepting short-range missiles and drones, operational range: 70 km, 20 interceptor missiles per launcher, radar-based threat detection, proficient in neutralizing only dangerous projectiles. Israel's success in thwarting Iranian drones and missiles is 99%.
Source: aajtak
David’s Sling
Features:
Destroys medium-range missiles, drones, and aircraft (40-300 km). Developed by Rafael and Raytheon. Assists in intercepting Iranian ballistic missiles.
Arrow-2 and Arrow-3
Features:
Dismantles long-range ballistic missiles outside (exo-atmospheric) and within the atmosphere. Arrow-3 has a range reaching up to 2,400 km. Crucial for intercepting Iran’s hypersonic missiles.
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Iran's Armaments
Since the 1980s, Iran has focused on advancing military technology, particularly in missiles and drones, largely drawing on Russian, Chinese, and North Korean innovations. Here’s a list of Iran's prominent weapons and their features:
1. Missiles
Fattah-1
Features:
Iran's first hypersonic missile, speed: 15,000–18,500 km/h, range: 1,400 km, capable of maneuvering within and outside the atmosphere, designed to evade defense systems.
Source: aajtak
Usage:
Utilized in attacks on Israel, though IDF asserted the absence of hypersonic missiles.
Fattah-2
Features:
An advanced version of Fattah-1, range: 1,500 km, with a hypersonic glide vehicle, further adept at outmaneuvering defense systems.
Usage:
Yet to be deployed in battle, but poses future threat.
Kheibarshekan (Khorramshahr-4)
Source: aajtak
Features:
Liquid-fueled ballistic missile, range: 2,000 km, capable of carrying a 1,500 kg warhead. Potential to target Israeli facilities.
Emad and Qadr
Features:
Medium-range ballistic missiles, speed: 7,402 km/h, range: 1,700–2,000 km, employed in attacks on Israel on October 1, 2024, and June 13, 2025.
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Qasem Basir
Features:
Solid-fuel missile, range: 1,200 km, designed to outsmart the American Patriot system, potentially used in recent attacks.
2. Drones
Shahed-136
Source: aajtak
Features:
Kamikaze drone, range: 2,000 km, carrying a 50 kg warhead, although slow (200 km/h), cost-effective and radar-evading, used against Israeli targets and Red Sea vessels. Also deployed by Russia in the Ukraine conflict.
Arash
Features:
Kamikaze and anti-radar drone, deployed via portable launchers, target Israeli radar setups.
Gaza
Features:
Large drone with a 2,000 km range, flight duration: 35 hours, payload: 500 kg, capable of supporting 13 bombs, aims at long-range attacks and surveillance.
Also read: Meet the centrifuge expert, reactor designer... Who are the six Iranian nuclear scientists killed in Israeli assaults?
3. Air Defense Systems
Bavar-373
Features:
Comparable to Russia's S-300/S-400 systems, armed with Sayyad-4 missiles, able to down stealth aircraft like the F-35, adept at engaging targets at great distances and elevations. Deployed in Syria to target Israeli F-35s.
Khordad-15
Source: aajtak
Features:
Introduced in 2019 with passive phased array radar, capable of striking six targets simultaneously, effective against F-35s, drones, and cruise missiles.
Mersad
Features:
Based on the American Hawk missile, medium-range system with modern radar, capable of intercepting aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles.
How these Systems Operate?
Israel’s Defense Strategy:
Israel’s multi-tiered defense system (Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow) can intercept 99% of drones, cruise, and ballistic missiles. Aircraft like the F-35 and F-15 neutralize threats airborne. Mossad’s intelligence and drone strikes undermine Iran’s defenses.
Iran’s Offensive Strategy:
Iran’s strategy capitalizes on inexpensive drones and fast ballistic missiles. Hypersonic missiles like Fattah-1 and Fattah-2 potentially challenge Israeli defenses but have yet to prove entirely successful. Iran attempts to overwhelm Israel’s defensive systems with missile volume.
