- Israel threatens retaliation against Iran’s recent missile and drone strikes
- Iran enhances its air defense systems against potential attacks
- Diverse missile defense layers bolster Iran’s military capabilities
In response to the missile and drone strikes initiated by Tehran in retaliation for the fatal bombardment of its consulate in Syria at the start of this month, Israel has threatened to “exact a price” from Iran.
Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has stated that a military response is assured in light of Saturday’s unprecedented direct attacks on Israel. The Israeli war cabinet has met multiple times to discuss a course of action to supplement a diplomatic drive against Iran.
Wednesday, Iranian President Reza Raisi issued a “massive and severe response” threat if Israel elects to initiate a direct military incursion onto Iranian territory. Therefore, how capable is Iran of repelling such an assault?
Utilizing indigenous defensive weapons
Iran has maintained an escalating reliance on domestic capabilities in its military sector for decades, mirroring a similar trend observed in its economy.
This sentiment is mainly attributable to Iran’s eight-year conflict with neighboring Iraq, which began in 1980 and was fought under the former Saddam Hussein regime. Baghdad received substantial military assistance from numerous foreign powers, including the United States.
Iran’s air superiority remains significantly challenged despite decades of sanctions and embargoes. Specific fighter jets and equipment, such as F-4 and F-5 fighter jets manufactured in the United States, are obsolete, having been used before the 1979 revolution that toppled the Western-backed monarchy of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Iran presently operates primarily Soviet-era Russian Sukhoi and MiG fighter aircraft. Although the Iranian Air Force has been developing its fighter jets, such as the Saeqeh and Kowsar, derived from American designs, these aircraft are not considered competitive with the F-35s, which Israel utilizes extensively.
The Iranian Air Force could be substantially rejuvenated with the delivery of twenty Su-35 fighter aircraft, the production of which has been the subject of protracted negotiations. However, more is needed for resilient air defense batteries.
Long-range batteries for missiles
Iran has endeavored to offset the deterioration of its domestic fighter aircraft through ambitious missile initiatives. In addition to burying some of its airbases, missile depots, and nuclear facilities deep within the mountains to defend them from bunker-buster munitions supplied to Israel by the United States, it has placed a particular emphasis on enhancing its air defense systems. Israel has made extensive use of bunker-buster munitions provided by the United States throughout its six-month conflict with Gaza.
Iran’s longest-range missile defense system is the domestically developed Bavar-373. It debuted in 2019 following a decade of testing and development and has undergone substantial enhancements since then.
In November 2022, Iranian authorities showcased an enhanced Bavar-373, claiming that its radar detection range had been extended from 340 kilometers (217 miles) to 450 kilometers (280 miles). Additionally, the vessel was outfitted with cutting-edge Sayyad 4B surface-to-air missiles.
It can reportedly lock on targets at a range of up to 400 kilometers, monitor and engage sixty targets simultaneously, and strike targets at a distance of up to 300 kilometers (186 miles). These targets may include long-range ballistic missiles, drones, and stealth fighter jets.
According to Iranian state media, the system exhibits specific improvements over the S-300 system manufactured in Russia. It can even be likened to the more sophisticated S-400 batteries, among the most advanced systems globally. Although the Bavar-373 has not been engaged in combat beyond Iranian military exercises, experts consider it part of one of the densest air defense networks on the planet.
Iran additionally employs S-300 systems designed to counter Russia’s Tor missile defense systems. Tehran obtained the latter in 2016, following the execution of its currently dormant nuclear agreement with global powers.
The S-300 systems, initially implemented by the Soviet Union in the late 1970s, are engineered to destroy aircraft, drones, and incoming ballistic and cruise missiles at a range of 150 kilometers (93 miles). In contrast, the Tor operates at low to medium altitudes and engages threats at a maximum distance of 16 kilometers (10 miles).
Systemic layers of missile defenses
Iran maintains a diverse fleet of indigenously developed missile defense batteries, which employ a variety of missiles to fortify the defenses surrounding its longest-range systems.
Multiple medium-range defense systems, including Arman, Tactical Sayyad, and Khordad-15, can defend Iranian airspace against targets at altitudes of up to 200 kilometers (124 miles).
Arman, introduced in November 2022, is a weapon affixed to the rear of military vehicles and can be deployed in minutes. It uses active or passive electronically scanned array radars, both of which are jam-resistant and precise. Its sole purpose is to counter tactical ballistic weapons aimed at locations on the battlefield less than 300 kilometers away.
The Arman system is outfitted with missiles specifically engineered to counter bunker-buster munitions. These missiles are precision-guided and designed to eliminate underground or fortified structures.
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Threats from the inbound direction that can bypass the Iranian mid-range batteries will be met with short-range batteries such as Azarakhsh, Majid, and Zoubin. The Azarakhsh is visible in the subsequent video.
Concurrently unveiled with Arman, Azarakhsh is a compact system engineered to counter threats like quadcopters and drones at low altitudes. An optical tracker can pursue targets for up to 25 kilometers (16 miles), while the detection range is 50 kilometers (31 miles).
Warships can deploy multiple Iranian missile defense systems due to their vertical launch capability, which provides greater flexibility and space.
In late March, a senior military official stated that Iran intends to introduce additional missile defense systems this year.
In addition to a vast array of surveillance and attack drones, both the Iranian army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are equipped with numerous varieties of ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of up to 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles). A number of these drones were employed during Iran’s assault on Israel on Saturday.
