This morning (Sunday), the Houthis launched a ballistic hypersonic missile towards central Israel. According to the terrorist organization's spokesperson, Yahya Saree, the target was a "military site near Tel Aviv." But what exactly is a hypersonic missile, and how dangerous is it?
A hypersonic missile is a guided weapon capable of traveling at speeds of at least 6,200 km/h (about five times the speed of sound). Saree claimed that the Houthi missile traveled approximately 2,040 km in 11.5 minutes, equivalent to over 10,600 km/h.
Technically, all ballistic missiles are hypersonic, including Israel's Jericho missiles. Ballistic missiles have been in operational use for 80 years, dating back to Nazi Germany's V-2 rocket attacks on Paris and London in 1944. During the Cold War, both the US and the Soviet Union developed numerous ballistic missile models and corresponding air defense systems. By the 1980s, it became possible to intercept ballistic missiles.
Israel's air defense systems are equipped to handle "conventional" hypersonic missiles. For example, Israel has successfully intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles such as the Qadr-110 and Emad during the April missile attack by Iran. These missiles follow a high arc trajectory, allowing air defense systems to predict their paths and intercept them at a safe distance.
However, the latest generation of hypersonic missiles introduces a significant challenge: maneuverability. Unlike conventional ballistic missiles, maneuverable hypersonic missiles do not follow a predictable arc or rise to high altitudes. Instead, they travel at lower altitudes in a zigzag pattern, making them harder to detect with radar. Their extreme speed and erratic trajectory currently make them nearly impossible to intercept with existing air defense systems.
Maneuverable hypersonic missiles pose a considerable threat as they can carry powerful warheads, including nuclear payloads.
According to Rafael CEO Dr. Yuval Steinitz, the David's Sling defense system has a "preliminary capability" to intercept maneuverable hypersonic missiles. However, Rafael is developing a new system specifically for this purpose. Over the past four years, the company has been working on the "Sharp Arrow" missile, which is expected to be the first in the world capable of intercepting maneuverable hypersonic missiles. Reports suggest that the Sharp Arrow could reach speeds exceeding Mach 10 (12,000 km/h).
The Houthis claim that the missile fired this morning was a maneuverable hypersonic missile, but this assertion seems far-fetched. The ballistic missiles in their arsenal are essentially Iranian Kheibar Shekan missiles. While these are potent weapons, they are not maneuverable hypersonic missiles.
In June, the Houthis launched a missile, referred to as "Palestine," at Eilat, which was intercepted by Israel's Arrow 3 system. This morning's missile disintegrated mid-air, a sign of technological deficiencies, and the IDF's defense systems successfully intercepted most of its fragments.
The extreme speeds of hypersonic missiles generate significant friction with the air, resulting in high temperatures. Manufacturing such missiles requires advanced precision, and even a minor error in design or execution can lead to mid-air disintegration, as occurred today. Producing maneuverable hypersonic missiles is an even more complex endeavor.
To the best of our knowledge, Israel does not currently possess maneuverable hypersonic missiles, nor does the US. However, Russia, which has deployed Kinzhal hypersonic missiles in Ukraine, China, and possibly Iran, reportedly have such weapons. That said, these systems are likely still in development.
According to foreign reports, in January, Israel targeted an Iranian hypersonic missile development center in a covert operation.
