Israel Relies on Non-Traditional Air Defense

(MENAFN) Israel has increasingly turned to air defense systems that were not originally intended to intercept certain missile threats, as the country faces growing challenges to its deterrence capabilities, according to Israeli media.

A broadcaster reported late Tuesday that the Israeli military is now using US-made interception systems along with lower-tier solutions such as “David’s Sling” to counter specific missiles. These systems were not designed for such threats, unlike more advanced platforms like the Arrow 3.

This adjustment comes as Israel’s air defense networks face mounting pressure due to the intensity and variety of attacks targeting the country.

The report noted that the Israeli government did not finance an additional production line for interceptor missiles because of financial disagreements between the defense and finance ministries. This occurred despite repeated warnings from security officials about the need to expand production capacity.

According to the broadcaster, delays in resource allocation hindered timely expansion of missile manufacturing. Increased production only began earlier this year, after new infrastructure was finally established.

The coverage also highlighted that debts owed by the Israeli government to defense industry firms have grown due to postponed payments for equipment and systems previously delivered.

Although Israel claims that interception accuracy reaches 90%, several incidents have still led to dozens of casualties, with missiles and drones launched by Iran and Hezbollah causing deaths and injuries among Israelis.

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