What is Israel’s Iron Dome, how it does work? Is it better than India’s S-400 air defence system?
Iran-Israel war: Iran launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Israel on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday in retaliation to the latter’s fierce airstrikes earlier this week, that killed top Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iranian drones and missiles caused significant damage deep inside Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, even as Israel’s multi-layered air defense system, especially its Iron Dome missile defense, intercepted and neutralized a major portion of aerial threats.
In contrast, during last month’s India-Pakistan conflict, India’s air defense systems, including the Russian-made S-400 Triumf, successfully thwarted every single missile and drone attack launched by Pakistan on multiple Indian cities, and not even a single missile struck its intended target.
Does the recent performance of both systems prove that the S-400 Triumf is more effective in combating aerial threats than the Iron Dome?
Let us take a look how India’s premier air defence system stacks up against Israel’s famed missile defense shield.
Israeli Iron Dome vs India’s S-400 Triumf – Which is better?
Israel’s famous Iron Dome
Israel Iron Dome is arguably the world’s most famous air defence system, and its has certainly lived up to its hype right since its inception, protecting the Jewish state from deadly aerial threats such as missiles, drones, and rockets. However, the Dome is primarily designed to stop short-range rocket and artillery attacks by the Hamas from the Gaza Strip. The Iron Dome uses ELM-2084 radar and Tamir missiles, and is good at stopping short-range aerial attacks.
For long-range and medium-range interception, Israel has the David’s Sling– considered by many as the world’s most advanced air defence system– and the Arrow 2 and 3 defense systems, that are deployed to intercept and neutralize long-range ballistic missile attacks fired by Iran and/or its like the Houthis in Yemen.
David’s Sling, deployed in 2017, fires stunner missiles with electro-optical/infrared seeker which intercepts threats at Mach 7.5 speeds. Its also capable of distinguishing between decoys and real warheads in real-time.
India’s S-400 Triumf
On the other hand, S-400 ‘Triumf’ is a medium-range interceptor with a range of up to 400 km. The Russian-made surface-to-air missile system is a vital part of India’s multi-layered air defence system, and is is capable of intercepting incoming projectiles at a range 400 kilometers and an altitude of 30 kilometers.
The S-400 system is designed to intercept a wide range of aerial threats, including ballistic and cruise missiles, and is integrated with the IACCS network of the Indian Air Force (IAF). It can intercept virtually any aerial attack from the enemy, including missiles, drones, fighter jets and rocket attacks.
The system is highly mobile and can be easily transported and deployed at any location, where it can be ready for operational use within minutes.
The S-400 system is equipped with an advanced 92N6E electronically-steered phased array radar, which enables the system to detect multiple enemy targets from a distance of 600 km. The system is capable of tracking as many as 160 targets simultaneously, and can fire two intercepting missiles at each target to ensure its neutralized.
India acquired the S-400 system from Russia in 2018 under a deal worth Rs 40,000 crore for five units, three of which have been delivered so far and are in operational use.
How Iron Dome varies from India’s S-400 Triumf?
India’s air defense strategy is markedly different from Israel. The Jewish nation’s famed Iron Dome missile defense is specifically designed to intercept short-range aerial threats, especially rocket attacks by Hamas from the Gaza Strip, while India’s multi-level air defense is designed to provide protection against long-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, stealth aircraft and hypersonic projectile.
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