Israel’s air defence systems, which have been hailed as some of the most advanced in the world, were breached during a recent conflict with Iran. Despite being 90% effective, some Iranian missiles managed to pierce through Israeli defences and hit key targets.
So, what’s behind Israel’s vulnerability? Experts point to several factors, including hypersonic missiles that can evade detection by radar, cruise missiles that change trajectory mid-air, and decoys that overload air defence systems. Iran has also been using advanced technologies such as radar suppression to make its missiles undetectable.
One way Iranian missiles evaded Israeli defences is by exhausting interceptor missiles. With a limited number of interceptors, Israel cannot shoot down all incoming missiles. Hypersonic missiles, in particular, are difficult for air defence systems to intercept due to their speed and erratic movements. Iran’s use of cruise missiles has also proven effective in sneaking past Israeli air defences.
The conflict between Iran and Israel is an example of “attritional” warfare, where the goal is not to destroy each other’s capabilities but to wear them down over time. With both sides having limited resources, it remains to be seen how long this conflict will last and whether either side can gain a decisive advantage.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/18/how-has-iran-managed-to-pierce-through-israels-air-defence-systems