{"id":128502,"date":"2026-02-28T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reunion68.se\/?p=128502"},"modified":"2026-02-28T11:38:53","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T09:38:53","slug":"03-00-118","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reunion68.se\/?p=128502","title":{"rendered":"Israel Shores Up Air Defenses, Expected to Hit Iran Launchers Early to Ease Stockpile Strain"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/a>Israel Shores Up Air Defenses, Expected to Hit Iran Launchers Early to Ease Stockpile Strain<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Debbie Weiss<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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An Israeli air defense system intercepts a ballistic missile barrage launched from Iran to central Israel during the missile attack, June 20, 2026. Photo: Eli Basri \/ SOPA Images via Reuters Connect<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Israel is slated to spend billions shoring up its air defenses<\/strong><\/span><\/a> against another Iranian missile campaign, and with dwindling interceptor stockpiles a subject of speculation and growing concern, missile-defense experts say the next round of escalation would likely place more weight on offensive action.<\/span><\/p>\n

With the prospect of another confrontation on the horizon as negotiations between the US and Iran look increasingly unstable, the debate over the volume and price of interceptors in a major exchange has resurfaced. During the 12-day war in June, Israeli media reported that in some cases the Air Force did not intercept Iranian missiles because of limitations in interceptor availability \u2014 allegations the defense establishment has denied.<\/span><\/p>\n

Missile-defense analyst Tal Inbar said while Israel keeps its remaining interceptor inventory and replenishment pace a secret, domestic production levels have ramped up significantly since June.<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, he said Israel drew lessons from the war<\/a><\/strong><\/span> and has adopted \u201cadaptive tactics,\u201d including putting more emphasis on early strikes designed to cut the number of missiles that need to be intercepted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is an ongoing operation, if a war starts, to find and hit the launchers in Iran,\u201d he told The Algemeiner<\/i>. \u201cEvery missile that we can destroy over Iran is one less missile that we have to intercept, so we won\u2019t deplete our interceptor arsenal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s air defenses range from Iron Dome, built for short-range rockets such as those fired from Gaza and Lebanon, to David\u2019s Sling for medium-range threats and the Arrow systems for long-range ballistic missiles such as those launched from Iran, a distance of nearly 1,000 miles. Iron Dome interceptors are generally estimated to cost in the tens of thousands of dollars, while Arrow interceptors can run into the millions per unit, meaning a sustained Iranian barrage could translate into billions of dollars<\/strong><\/span><\/a> in defensive fire.<\/span><\/p>\n

US defenses face their own resupply strain after multiyear demand tied in part to Ukraine. Aegis-equipped US ships have also been intercepting missiles and drones over the Red Sea, adding to demand for US interceptors. For example, during the 12-day war, THAAD batteries in the region fired more than 150 interceptors in under two weeks, about a quarter of the system\u2019s lifetime production. The Pentagon has since moved to expand interceptor output across multiple systems as well as THAAD, including Patriot and SM-3.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to a Wall Street Journal<\/em> report published over the course of the war, both the US and Israel\u2019s anti-ballistic Arrow system<\/strong><\/span><\/a> were running low on interceptors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) said it had increased production. Arrow-4, which is set to replace Arrow-2 for within-atmosphere interceptions, is also in the latter stages of development and is scheduled for deployment in the coming months, IAI CEO Boaz Levy said last week, \u201cincreasing Israel\u2019s interception success rates.\u201d Arrow-3 is \u201cexo-atmospheric,\u201d designed to engage ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n

Advisers to US President Donald Trump have privately pushed for Israel to strike Iran ahead of any US action, Politico<\/em> reported on Thursday, citing two people familiar with the discussions, with one saying \u201cthe politics are a lot better if the Israelis go first.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday there was \u201cno chance\u201d a strike against Iran would turn into a protracted war, the Washington Post<\/em> reported.<\/span><\/p>\n

USS Gerald R. Ford, the world\u2019s largest aircraft carrier, arrived at Israel\u2019s coast on Friday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Israel has also been preparing for the likelihood that Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terrorist group in Lebanon, would join any confrontation<\/a><\/strong><\/span>. Over the past week the Israeli military has intensified strikes on Hezbollah-linked operatives and infrastructure, including launch sites and weapons stockpiles, as part of an effort to weaken the Iranian proxy group\u2019s ability to join the Islamic Republic in a war. Twelve senior operatives were killed this month alone, Israel\u2019s Channel 12 reported.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Inbar, who is a senior research fellow at the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, the cost to Iran as the attacker is far lower per unit, creating an economic asymmetry that becomes more consequential the longer a barrage lasts. \u201cAlmost every time, an interceptor costs more than the missile that you want to intercept,\u201d he said. \u201cDefense is much more expensive than offense.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, he cautioned that the comparison ignores the damage prevented by interceptors. \u201cYou cannot compare the price of the Arrow 3 to you losing a hospital or a power plant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The latest round of US-Iran diplomacy<\/a><\/strong><\/span> produced conflicting assessments, with mediator Oman saying there was \u201csignificant progress\u201d during Thursday\u2019s talks in Geneva while the Journal<\/em> reported that the sides were \u201cstill far apart on key issues.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In comments published Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas said any deal would require Washington to drop \u201cexcessive demands.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Hebrew-language media cited unnamed senior officials as saying that a US strike was once again starting to look more probable in the coming days. US Central Command chief Navy Adm. Brad Cooper briefed Trump on Thursday on potential military options against Iran, according to ABC news.<\/span><\/p>\n

The US on Friday authorized \u201cnon-emergency\u201d staffers at its embassy in Jerusalem to leave the <\/a>country<\/a> citing \u201csafety risks.\u201d<\/span>
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