WorldTekhno.com – Israel said it used one of its most advanced air and missile defence systems for the first time on Thursday (11/9/2023) to intercept missiles launched towards Israel in the Red Sea region.
The system, known as Arrow 3, is designed to intercept long-range missiles outside the atmosphere, according to a joint statement from the Israeli military and defence ministry.So what is the difference between Arrow-3 and Dome?
Arrow-3 and Dome are two ballistic missile defence (BMD) systems developed by Israel. These two systems have key differences in range, capabilities and purpose.
Range
Arrow-3 is a long-range BMD system designed to protect Israel from long-range ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Dome, on the other hand, is a short-range BMD system designed to protect Israel from short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, including ballistic missiles launched from Lebanon and Gaza.
Capability
Arrow-3 uses hit-to-kill technology, meaning that Arrow-3 missiles will directly strike enemy ballistic missiles. Dome, on the other hand, uses detect-and-bomb technology, meaning that a Dome missile will approach an enemy ballistic missile and then launch a warhead to destroy it.
Target
Arrow-3 is designed to provide advanced defence against long-range ballistic missile threats. Dome, on the other hand, is designed to provide basic-level defence against short- and medium-range ballistic missile threats.
Here is a table summarising the main differences between Arrow-3 and Dome:
| Fiture | Arrow-3 | Dome |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Long distance | Short-haul |
| Ability | Hit-to-kill | Screening and bombing |
| Objective | Advanced defense | Basic level defense |
A more detailed explanation of each system is provided below:
Arrow-3
Arrow-3 is a long-range BMD system developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Raytheon Missile Systems. Arrow-3 uses hit-to-kill technology, which means that Arrow-3 missiles will directly hit enemy ballistic missiles. Arrow-3 has a range of up to 500 kilometres and can reach altitudes of up to 100 kilometres.
Arrow-3 was first tested in 2005 and approved for production in 2016. Israel has placed Arrow-3 at the forefront of its missile defence and the system is expected to become the backbone of Israel’s missile defence for decades to come.
Domes
Dome is a short-range BMD system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Dome uses detect-and-bomb technology, which means that a Dome missile will approach an enemy ballistic missile and then launch a warhead to destroy it. The Dome has a range of up to 70 kilometres and can reach a height of up to 20 kilometres.
Dome was first tested in 2008 and approved for production in 2011. Dome has been in operational use in Israel since 2011 and the system has successfully shot down hundreds of ballistic missiles launched from Lebanon and Gaza.
Overall, Arrow-3 and Dome are two important BMD systems for Israel’s defence. Arrow-3 provides advanced defence against long-range ballistic missile threats, while Dome provides basic-level defence against short- and medium-range ballistic missile threats.***
