Iran’s recent attack on Israel appears to be a strategic move aimed at surpassing Israel’s advanced defense systems using inexpensive drones, thus increasing the chances of their more advanced ballistic missiles hitting their targets. This tactic is not unique to Iran, as similar methods have been observed in other conflicts, such as in Ukraine, where drones have been used alongside cruise and ballistic missiles to overwhelm air defenses.
During a recent visit to an Israeli Iron Dome battery, it was evident that the system consisted of interconnected launchers loaded with multiple missiles, capable of intercepting incoming drones or missiles in mid-air. Despite this formidable defense system, Iran seems to believe that overwhelming it with a large quantity of drones is key to success, in addition to quality.
However, according to defense analyst Justin Crump, the success of Iran’s strategy is far from certain. He points out that Israel is not Ukraine, and with the support of US and likely UK aircraft, as well as a highly capable Israeli Air Force, the defenses against such attacks are strong. Israel also possesses various anti-missile systems that will prove challenging to overwhelm.
The effectiveness of this unprecedented attack in breaching Israel’s air defenses and the level of damage it may cause will likely dictate the magnitude of Israel’s response. The outcome of this conflict will be closely watched by military analysts worldwide.
