Amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, the prowess of Israel's Iron Dome has once again come under the spotlight. Just last Saturday, Iran launched an unexpected midnight strike against Israel, exacerbating tensions in the Middle East. Over 300 drones and missiles were fired by Iran, yet 99% were intercepted and destroyed mid-air by Israel's Iron Dome system, which costs nearly three times Iran's defense budget. Let's delve into the costs required to operate such a robust defense system.
99% of Iranian missiles annihilated in the air
During the previous year's surprise missile assault by Hamas, the strength of the Iron Dome was revealed to the world. It has re-emerged as a hero in Iran's recent attacks. During Iran's missile barrage, Israel faced drones, supersonic cruise, and ballistic missiles. However, the Israel Defense Forces, with support from American forces, claimed that 99% of Iran's missiles and drones were successfully intercepted. The Iron Dome system is extremely effective at neutralizing missile threats in the sky.
Source: aajtak
The cost for deploying the Iron Dome
The cost of deploying Israel's Iron Dome is notably more than three times that of Iran's defense budget. According to the World of Statistics, Iran's defense budget is about 9.95 billion dollars. In contrast, reports suggest that the Iron Dome's expenses run close to 3 trillion rupees. This means that a single weapon system is capable of rendering Iran's military endeavors futile with its significant cost of operation.
Intercepting missiles, a heavy price to pay
The Iron Dome's interception range stretches from 2.5 to 43 miles. According to a 2021 report by the National Security Studies Institute, a single interceptor missile costs between $40,000 to $50,000. Thus, the expense incurred by Israel to build this protective shield is equally substantial when it comes to usage costs in confronting enemies.
Israel spends more on defense than Iran
Israel is one of the nations that invests heavily in defense. It is also at the forefront in terms of advanced technology and weapons. Comparing defense budgets, Iran's stands at 9.95 billion dollars while Israel's is at 24.4 billion dollars. In terms of GDP, Israel far exceeds Iran with the World Bank reporting Iran's GDP at 413.5 billion dollars, and Israel's economy at over 525 billion dollars.
