Iron Dome and extra-atmospheric strikes: the technology Israel used to destroy Iranian drones

Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system in action during an attack. Photo: REUTERS/Ayal Margolin

Unusual footage has appeared. to capture Israel shooting down a ballistic missile outside the Earth's atmosphere as it deployed its most advanced defenses against Iranian drones and missiles.

Images showing what is believed to be an «extra-atmospheric» interception were among the images circulated on Sunday morning after an unprecedented rocket attack was fired directly at Israel for the first time from Iran.

According to Israeli public broadcaster Kan, one Israeli official described the country's response as «the most complex event in the history of air defense.»< /p>

Israel claims to have shot down — with the help of the US and the Royal Air Force — 99 percent of more than 330 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles fired from Iran.

Iran launched 30 cruise missiles, 120 ballistic missiles and 170 drones, according to the army. The attacks came from Iran, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon, marking the most serious multi-front attack against Israel in decades.

At least one of the ballistic missiles was shot down by the Arrow Weapon System (AWS). ), which is the world's first operational national autonomous ballistic missile defense (anti-tactical ballistic missile) system.

Arrow 3 is the latest and most advanced extra-atmospheric hypersonic anti-ballistic missile system designed to shoot down targets that must fall on the target from outside the Earth's atmosphere.