Israel’s Iron Dome system is not designed to intercept hypersonic missiles, and cannot reliably defend against them in its current form. Here's a breakdown:
What Iron Dome Is Designed For:
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Primary role: Intercept short-range rockets, artillery shells, and mortars (RAM threats), as well as some cruise missiles and drones.
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Speed capacity: Targets typically travel below Mach 2 (subsonic to low supersonic).
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Interceptor missile: Tamir missile, designed for maneuvering, low-cost engagements against a high volume of threats.
Why It Struggles Against Hypersonic Missiles:
Hypersonic missiles (like China’s DF-17 or Russia’s Avangard) fly at speeds over Mach 5 and often:
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Manoeuver unpredictably, unlike traditional ballistic missiles.
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Fly at low altitudes (in some cases, gliding through the atmosphere), making them hard to detect early.
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Reduce reaction time drastically for defense systems like Iron Dome.
Who Is Working on Hypersonic Defenses:
Some countries are investing in more advanced intercept systems that might handle hypersonics, such as:
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U.S. Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) – under development.
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THAAD and Aegis systems – being upgraded for faster threats.
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Israel's David’s Sling and Arrow 4 – potential for limited future hypersonic defense (still under development/testing).
Summary:
Iron Dome is excellent at what it was designed for — low-flying, slow-to-moderate-speed rockets and mortars — but it cannot defend against hypersonic missiles. Hypersonic threats require a new class of sensors, interceptors, and AI-enabled prediction algorithms.
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