Ballistic missiles against laser air defense. What are Iran and Israel fighting over

The conflict between Israel and Iran is conducted exclusively in the air, without the use of land and naval forces. In response to the air strikes, Iran is massively launching ballistic missiles and drones, which collide with Israeli air defenses, which include a laser system. What the two countries fighting at a distance have in their weapons is in the Izvestia material.

Iran's military capabilities

• Iran's airstrikes on Israel in 2024 showed what capabilities Tehran has in the field of missile weapons. Prior to Operation Rising Lion, the arsenal of cruise and ballistic missiles could be described as quite extensive and diverse, including about 3,000 shells. At least in the Middle East, Iran has the largest stockpile of missiles. It also has advanced capabilities for launching attack drones.

• Iran's longest-range missiles are capable of covering a distance of 2,000 km, while the distance between Iran and Israel in a straight line is about 1,700 km. Such missiles include, for example, the Ghadr-110 with an inertial navigation system. It is an improved version of the Shahab-3 and is capable of carrying a warhead weighing up to 1,000 kg. Such missiles have already been used during Iran's retaliatory attacks on Israel. In addition, the less long-range Emad ballistic missiles, which have greater accuracy and carry up to 750 kg of explosives, and the Kheibar Shekan, capable of carrying a maneuvering warhead weighing up to 550 kg, were used.

• The Iranian command claims that the above-mentioned missiles belong to relatively old developments, while new ballistic missiles have not yet been massively used. The Islamic Republic has, for example, the hypersonic Fattah-2 in reserve. The mass of its warhead is 200 kg, the missile is capable of changing its trajectory, bypassing air defense systems. The range of Fattah-2 reaches 1,500 km. Another promising development is the solid-fuel Sejjil, which carries up to 700 kg of charge over a distance of up to 2000 km. Iran's most dangerous medium-range missile is the Khorramshahr—4 (aka Kheibar), which carries a separable warhead weighing up to 1,500 kg. On the evening of June 17, Iran was seen launching a rocket different from those used earlier. Presumably, it was the Khorramshahr-4, although the Iranian Defense Ministry, which confirmed the launch of one of the latest missiles, did not specify its name.

To a lesser extent, Iran relies on cruise missiles, as they are easier to neutralize by the Israeli air defense system, and their flight range is significantly lower. Soumar and Paveh are the type of missiles capable of covering the required distance. There is no information publicly available on how much mass of the warhead they are capable of carrying.

Drones are much more important for Iran. Although they are inferior to missiles in vulnerability, speed and combat power, they are much cheaper, and therefore the Iranian command actively uses them. The most common drone is the Shahed-136 with an internal combustion engine and a 50 kg warhead. Together with it, the Shahed-238 jet is used, which develops high speed. Such drones are used both to defeat certain targets and to distract air defenses.

Hyperattack: what new weapon did Iran use to attack Israel

And how will the next round of escalation affect the possibilities of a diplomatic solution to the conflict?

• At the moment, Iran's strike capabilities have decreased due to Israeli attacks. Tel Aviv claims that about half of the launchers and up to 45% of the stock of ballistic missiles were destroyed. Compared to the attacks in 2024, Iran has noticeably reduced the number of launches, counting them not in hundreds, but in dozens within the same series. The smallest launch, recorded on June 17, included only two ballistic missiles.

Israel's military capabilities

• Israel mainly uses airstrikes in its attacks on Iran. During the first stage of Operation Rising Lion, American F-35 fighter jets operated in the skies of the Islamic Republic. They attacked the radar installations of the Iranian air defense. This made it possible to further deploy less advanced F-15 and F-16 aircraft to further suppress air defenses using JDAM and SPICE bombs. They were supported by drones. As a result, Israel was able to declare its air supremacy.

• Israel has not yet used its own ballistic missiles. Among the projectiles that can reach Iran, it has Jericho 2 and Jericho 3. The first missile flies at a distance of up to 3,500 km, the second — up to 6500 km. However, their use in the current conflict is unlikely, since they are designed to deliver a nuclear charge, and the use of a high-explosive shell in them is not rational.

• Although Israel has already confirmed the ability to hit a variety of targets in Iran, including nuclear infrastructure facilities, it is not yet able to damage the Fordo uranium enrichment plant, built in the mountains underground. It is protected by dozens of meters of rock and is invulnerable to conventional weapons. The American GBU-57A/B MOP 13-ton bunker buster bombs, carrying a charge weighing up to 2,000 kg, could hit the object. They are capable of penetrating through reinforced concrete or soil to a depth of 60 m. However, except for the United States, no other country has such ammunition.

• Israel's military potential is largely determined by its air defense forces, which repel missile and drone attacks by Iran. On the first level, Israel is protected by the Iron Dome system. It is designed to intercept artillery shells and short-range missiles, which are not currently a threat from Iran.

• Israel is protected from Iranian attacks by the David's Sling system and the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 interceptors. The David's Sling is aimed at medium-range ballistic missiles launched from a distance of 100 km. Arrow 2 is designed to intercept missiles in the upper atmosphere at an altitude of 50 km. Arrow 3 is capable of operating in space and at a distance of up to 2,400 km. According to the Israeli military command, together these systems repel up to 90% of attacks.

The conflict with Iran was the reason for the first combat use of the Iron Ray laser air defense system. It is capable of burning through drones and missile warheads at a distance of about 1 km when they are already on approach. Such systems are not reliable and require the participation of highly qualified specialists.