Context:
- Renewed hostilities between Iran and a U.S.-led coalition (including Israel and the UAE) have highlighted the importance of missile defense systems, particularly interceptor missiles, in modern warfare.
Key Highlights:
- Regional Air Defence Network
- The conflict has activated a regional missile defence network across the Persian Gulf region.
- The UAE has deployed the South Korean Cheongung II missile defence system alongside U.S. defence systems.
- Function of Missile Defence Systems
- Missile defence systems aim to detect, track, and destroy incoming missiles before they reach their targets.
- These systems use:
- Sensors
- Radar
- Computers
- Interceptor missiles.
- Effectiveness of Different Systems
- Iron Dome (Israel):
- Highly effective against short-range rockets.
- Patriot Missile System (U.S.):
- Less effective against high-speed or manoeuvring missiles.
- Iran’s Air Defence Systems
- Bavar-373 system
- Uses Sayyad-4B missiles.
- Sevom-e-Khordad
- Capable of engaging aircraft and drones.
- Arman Ballistic Missile Defence system
- Designed to intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.
- Saturation Attack Strategy
- Iran reportedly uses large numbers of inexpensive missiles to overwhelm defensive interceptors.
- This depletes costly interceptor stockpiles of adversaries.
- Technological Developments
- The U.S. is deploying Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) using AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles.
- The U.S. Department of Defense increased production orders for:
- THAAD interceptors
- PAC-3 MSE interceptors.
- There is increasing focus on directed-energy systems (laser weapons).
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Interceptor Missile
- A missile designed to destroy incoming missiles during flight.
- Hit-to-Kill Technology
- An interceptor directly collides with the target missile, destroying it using kinetic energy instead of explosives.
- Radar
- A detection system that uses radio waves to identify and track objects, determining distance, direction, and speed.
- Vertical Launch System (VLS)
- A system that allows missiles to be launched vertically from silos, enabling 360° targeting capability.
- Major Missile Defence Systems
- Iron Dome – Israel
- Patriot – United States
- THAAD – United States
- Cheongung II – South Korea
- Bavar-373 – Iran
Relevant Mains Points:
- Changing Nature of Modern Warfare
- Missile defence is becoming central due to the proliferation of ballistic missiles, drones, and cruise missiles.
- States are developing layered air defence systems.
- Cost Imbalance Problem
- Interceptor missiles are significantly more expensive than attacking missiles.
- Saturation attacks using cheap weapons can exhaust defensive systems.
- Strategic Implications
- Missile defence systems influence regional deterrence and strategic stability.
- Deployment in the Persian Gulf region increases geopolitical tensions.
- Technology Race in Air Defence
- Growing investments in:
- Directed-energy weapons
- Hypersonic missile defence
- Integrated sensor networks.
- Way Forward
- Development of cost-effective interception technologies.
- Strengthening integrated air defence networks.
- Promoting international arms control measures to limit missile proliferation.
UPSC Relevance:
- GS Paper II – International Relations: West Asia geopolitics, security alliances
- GS Paper III – Internal Security: Missile defence technology, evolving warfare systems