EURASIAN TIMES | Published November 7, 2024
Israel’s recent strikes on Iran on October 26 have revealed a new level of military precision and tactical finesse, leveraging air-launched ballistic missiles (ALBMs) to target Iran’s air defense systems, missile production facilities, and other high-value sites.
The choice of ALBMs was strategic as it enabled Israeli jets to strike from far away distances, likely from Iraqi airspace, which complicated Iran’s efforts to intercept these fast-moving threats.
Initial signs of Israel’s strategy surfaced shortly after the attack, with images on social media revealing debris of Israeli missile boosters that had fallen in Iraq, pointing to the cross-border operation’s technical details.
Open-source intelligence and satellite imagery have also validated Israel’s use of these advanced air-launched ballistic missiles. By targeting and disabling Iranian air defense systems, Israel has underscored its evolving capability to conduct long-range, precision strikes without directly entering heavily contested airspace.
Iran, however, responded dismissively, with officials claiming to have countered the missiles and downplaying their warheads as “very light” compared to its own ground-launched ballistic arsenal.
Iran had itself fired over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1, escalating the ongoing conflict.
READ FULL ARTICLE
SOURCE: www.eurasiantimes.com
RELATED: Israel’s use of air-launched ballistic missiles against Iran sparks market interest
Weapon’s speed and moving launch point make it more resistant to air defenses than its ground-based counterparts and the cruise missiles used by most major powers, experts say
Armed Israeli Air Force planes depart from an unknown location to attack Iran, October 26, 2024. (Israeli Army via AP)
TIMES OF ISRAEL | Published November 7, 2024
Israel’s effective use of air-launched ballistic missiles in its response to Iran’s latest missile attack is expected to pique interest elsewhere in acquiring the weapons, which most major powers have avoided in favor of cruise missiles and glide bombs.
The Israel Defense Forces said its October 26 raid knocked out Iranian missile factories and air defenses in three waves of strikes, in retaliation for Iran’s massive barrage of ballistic missiles that sent millions of Israelis into bomb shelters on October 1.
Based on satellite imagery, researchers said targets of the Israeli strike included buildings once used in Iran’s nuclear program.
Tehran defends such targets with “a huge variety” of anti-aircraft systems, said Justin Bronk, an airpower and technology expert at London’s Royal United Services Institute.
Cruise missiles are easier targets for dense, integrated air defenses than ballistic missiles are. But ballistic missiles are often fired from known launch points, and most cannot change course in flight.
Experts say high-speed, highly accurate air-launched ballistic missiles (ALBM), such as the Israel Aerospace Industries’ Rampage, get around problems facing ground-based ballistic missiles and air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM) — weapons that use small wings to fly great distances and maintain altitude.
READ FULL ARTICLE
SOURCE: www.timesofisrael.com
Be the first to comment