Iran is well-known for its missiles. It is said to possess the largest missile arsenal in the Middle East, with a variety of missiles including ballistic, cruise, and surface-to-air. There is even talk of hypersonic missiles. Conversely, Israel is renowned for its air defense systems.
Israel also has potent missiles, but its air defense system is even more impressive, taking down missiles mid-air. Although there are occasional intercept failures, Israel's air defense system remains immensely powerful and reliable, saving many Israeli lives.
Let's explore the missile strengths of these two countries...
Iran's Missile Capabilities...
Source: aajtak
Ballistic Missiles
Shahab-3...
Range: 1300 km, Speed: 8640 km/h.
Shahab-4...
Range: 2000 km, Speed: similar to Shahab-3.
Emad...
Range: 1700 km. Speed not disclosed.
Khorramshahr...
Range: 2000 km, Speed: 9878 km/h to 19756 km/h.
Source: aajtak
Cruise Missiles
Soumar...
Range: 700 km, Speed: 800 km/h.
Hoveyzeh...
Range: 1300 km. Speed undisclosed.
Surface-to-Air Missiles
S-300...
Range: 150-200 km, purchased from Russia.
Bavar 373...
Range: 100-300 km. Speed undisclosed.
Now, let's explore Israel's missile capabilities:
Ballistic Missiles
Source: aajtak
Jericho 1-2-3...
with ranges of 500, 1500, and 4800 km respectively. These variations come in different sizes and speeds, with hypersonic capabilities surpassing 6500 km/h, making them difficult for Iran's air defense systems to intercept.
Cruise Missiles
Popeye...
Range: 150 km. Speed not disclosed.
Delilah...
Range: 250 km, Speed: 1049 km/h.
Surface-to-Air Missiles
Arrow-2 and Arrow-3...
Range: 90 to 2400 km. Speed: 9,000 to 10,000 km/h, capable of neutralizing enemy missiles in mid-air.
Source: aajtak
David's Sling...
Range: 70-300 km, also known as the Magic Wand. It's a surface-to-air and anti-ballistic missile interceptor with a speed of 9261 km/h.
Iron Dome...
Range: 4-70 km. As the world's most reliable air defense system, it uses Tamir missiles to neutralize up to 90% of aerial threats.
Key Differences Between the Two Countries' Missile Systems
Israel's Jericho-3 missile offers a longer range than Iran's most capable missile, the Khorramshahr. In terms of accuracy, Iranian missiles are superior due to advanced guidance systems. However, Israel's multi-layered air defense system provides robust protection, whereas Iran's defense capabilities are more limited. This means Israel is better equipped to defend itself in a missile showdown, while Iran faces greater vulnerability.
