On October 1, millions of Israelis scrambled for cover as Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles into Israel, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict and raising fears of a wider regional war.
The attack exposed vulnerabilities in Israel’s much-praised air defense system, which has been described as one of the most advanced and battle-tested missile shields globally. Despite its reputation, the system was unable to intercept every missile in the barrage, leading security experts to quickly assess its shortcomings.
“Iran’s strategy of launching large missile barrages is aimed at overwhelming air defenses, forcing Israel to make quick decisions on which threats to counter,” said Samuel Hickey of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.
Israel claimed it intercepted a majority of the missiles, though Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari acknowledged that some Iranian missiles struck central and southern Israel. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) countered, stating that 90% of their missiles hit their intended targets, making it the largest ballistic missile strike on a country in history.
Questions remain about whether the missiles that breached Israel’s defenses were fully armed or reached their precise targets. Experts also pointed out that Iran likely used some of its more advanced missiles in this assault.
The scale of the October 1 attack, with 180 missiles, far exceeded a previous strike on April 15 when Iran launched around 120 similar projectiles.
How Israel’s Air Defense System Works
Israel’s defense is structured across three tiers:
- Iron Dome – The most well-known, targeting short-range rockets up to 70 kilometers.
- David’s Sling – Intercepts medium-range missiles of up to 300 kilometers.
- Arrow 2 and 3 – Defend against medium and long-range missiles, including those traveling up to 2,000 kilometers.
Mobile batteries positioned near major cities detect incoming projectiles, allowing the system to calculate their trajectory and determine whether to intercept based on potential damage to populated areas or military targets.
Though Israel’s defense planners are aware that no system is flawless, the barrage on October 1 underscored the difficulty of countering a large-scale missile attack. It was the third such incident, following Hamas’ surprise attack in October last year and Iran’s earlier missile strike in April, both of which overwhelmed Israeli defenses.
“Despite Israel’s strong intercept record, the offense-defense race continues to favor offense,” Hickey noted.
