Missile interceptors in U.S.-Iran war, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• Renewed hostilities between the U.S.-led coalition (including Israel and the UAE) and Iran have activated a new regional air defense network.
• The UAE is deploying its South Korean Cheongung II defense system alongside new U.S. systems.
• Missile defense systems aim to detect and destroy incoming missiles using sensors, computers, and interceptor missiles.
• The effectiveness of interceptors varies; Iron Dome has high success against short-range rockets, while Patriot is less successful against faster targets.
• Iran is using systems like Bavar-373 and Sevom-e-Khordad to counter various threats, but reports suggest the U.S. and Israeli attacks may be overwhelming them.

Detailed Insights:

• The current conflict includes the Persian Gulf, prompting the UAE to utilize its Cheongung II system, designed to intercept low-flying cruise and tactical ballistic missiles.
• Cheongung II features a Vertical Launch System with a rotating multi-function radar for 360° coverage and a radar in its nose for enhanced precision against "skimmer" missiles.
• Iran's strategy involves saturation attacks using cheap missiles to deplete the alliance's interceptors, highlighting the need for cost-effective defense solutions.
• The U.S. is using the Indirect Fire Protection Capability with AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles to protect bases and ration the expensive Patriot system.
• Post the 12-day war, the U.S. Department of Defense has increased production orders for THAAD and PAC-3 MSE interceptors and accelerated the deployment of directed-energy systems.
• Iran's air defense network includes the Bavar-373 system with Sayyad-4B missiles and the Arman Ballistic Missile Defence system, designed to intercept short- to medium-range ballistic missiles.
• Reports suggest that strikes in Tehran and Isfahan indicate that the U.S. and Israeli attacks might be overwhelming Iran's interceptors due to the time required to reload missile batteries.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Interceptor: A missile designed to destroy incoming missiles before they reach their targets.
• Radar: A system using radio waves to detect and track objects, determining their speed, location, and direction.
• Hit-to-kill: A technology where an interceptor missile directly collides with the target, using kinetic energy to destroy it.
• Vertical Launch System: A missile system that can launch missiles in any direction without moving the launcher.