As tensions escalate along Israel's northern frontier, Hezbollah's expanding fleet of Iranian-made drones has emerged as a significant threat, testing the limits of the country's sophisticated air defense systems. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have demonstrated an alarming ability to penetrate Israeli airspace, causing destruction and casualties while often evading one of the world's most advanced air defense networks.

While Hezbollah has suffered significant losses to many of its weapons systems, which have largely failed to make substantial impacts during the ongoing conflict, the terror organization's UAV arsenal has become a real thorn in Israel's side. What makes these Iranian-made drones a genuine threat, and how can they be countered?

While many of Hezbollah's weapon systems, including long-range missiles and precision munitions, have struggled to inflict significant damage on Israel, the drone array the organization received from Iran has evolved into a real threat and a major challenge for Israel.

Hezbollah has been operating drones, primarily for reconnaissance purposes, since before the Second Lebanon War in 2006. With the advancement of Iran's unmanned vehicle program over the past two decades, Hezbollah, like other Iranian proxy organizations, has been equipped with a large number of cutting-edge Iranian-made tools for reconnaissance, attack, and target destruction.

Mirsad

The UAV that struck the military base was likely a "Mirsad" drone manufactured by the Iranians. It's a small aircraft with an explosive warhead of about 44 pounds that can reach speeds of about 124 mph. This is a tool that Hezbollah possesses and has recently deployed more than once.

DR3

Within Hezbollah's drone arsenal are several key players for attack and "suicide" missions, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages. Hezbollah holds an unknown quantity of heavy and large cruise missiles of the DR3 model, originating from Russian-made Tupolev drones converted into "suicide" vehicles that can reach ranges of over 124 miles with a heavy warhead of 661 pounds. These come with significant advantages but also clear drawbacks.

The heavy drone requires a massive launcher that must be placed in a building or on a truck and can be detected relatively easily. In recent weeks, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has successfully documented the destruction of several such drones hidden in civilian homes in southern Lebanon. So far, there is no known successful launch of this weapon.

Karrar

The Karrar is an Iranian-made drone based on the American jet-powered Striker drone. The Karrar is a kind of "poor man's fighter jet" because it combines suicide attack capabilities, bomb dropping, and even air-to-air missile launches against aircraft. Its range is relatively long, and Hezbollah apparently attempted to use it during the Syrian civil war.

However, the Karrar's jet engine and relatively high radar signature make it less effective for deep missions in Israeli territory and much more vulnerable to Israel's anti-aircraft array.

Ababil-T

The Ababil series, named after a type of bird from Islamic folklore, is the workhorse of the Iranian drone fleet. The early models of the series served Hezbollah back in the early 2000s, and some even reached the Hamas terror organization.

The Ababil-T is an advanced series model with an improved navigation system and an efficient and quiet internal combustion engine that is very difficult to detect by radar. The Ababil-T is agile enough to make optimal use of the Lebanese terrain and thus evade interception as it makes its way to Israel's borders. It doesn't need a large launcher and can be deployed from almost any terrain.

However, its relatively small range, only about 75 miles, limits it to operation in areas relatively close to the border, and IDF advancement into Lebanese territory could further reduce the effective use of these drones in Israeli territory.

Shahed-136

The Shahed-136 has so far proven to be one of the most significant assets in Hezbollah's drone arsenal. It has a quiet electric motor and an extremely low radar signature, making it very hard to intercept. It has a range of almost 500 miles and an armor-piercing warhead of about 18 pounds. Due to its difficulty in interception, it is relatively slow and flies at a speed of only about 75 mph, a fraction of that of other suicide drones in Hezbollah's possession.

However, its relatively simple systems give it another advantage – it's very cheap, costing only $20,000 per unit, which means it can be held in large quantities, as Hezbollah does. It's very easy to launch and needs only minimal ground space for deployment. All these qualities make it a perfect drone for attacking in a swarm tactic, as Hezbollah has already demonstrated.

How to counter?

It's crucial to understand that drone and UAV warfare is an evolving form of combat that has changed almost beyond recognition in recent years and has left many armies worldwide, from Myanmar to Ukraine, grappling with significant problems and challenges.

For Israel, there are several central problems in dealing with the threat. First, drones with a low radar signature flying very close to the ground are inherently difficult to intercept, and the mountainous terrain of southern Lebanon and the Galilee makes it even more challenging to detect and intercept these vehicles. The second problem is that even when early detection of the vehicle occurs, the interception window is very small and sometimes simply missed entirely.

Another problem is the tactic of using a drone swarm, a large and coordinated quantity of vehicles that can arrive from several places simultaneously, "occupy" the air defense array, and ensure that at least some of the vehicles will hit the target with deadly precision. Israel's air defense array is replete with some of the world's best detection and interception means, but even it struggles to deal with the threat.

Tal Inbar, a senior research fellow at the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, explains that the defense establishment is not surprised by this: "The problem starts with topography. The terrain in Lebanon is mountainous, unlike the plain where Gaza is located. It's carved with mountains and valleys and makes it very difficult to detect aircraft flying low and using the terrain to hide in it." In conclusion, Inbar says: "We don't yet have a system that's a game-changer. Our success will come from the systems and a precise concept of operation."

A possible partial solution to the threat is a return to using Vulcan cannons, which fire small shells at a tremendous rate and can be placed at many key points throughout the north as a complementary part of the interception array.

Additionally, the entry of a laser system into operational service can at least partially assist in closing gaps during drone swarms and improving interception capabilities. In Ukraine, small units of "drone hunters" on armed pickups equipped with cannons managed to inflict heavy losses on the Russian drone array, and defense systems with cannons like the German "Gepard" have also been successful against Russia's Shaheds.

However, it's important to note that even the solutions found by Ukraine represent only partial success and that only experience, coordination, and learning over the years will tip the scales in favor of the defender in the battle against the drones of the Iranian axis.

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An initial probe by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) into the drone explosion near Binyamina has uncovered that two unmanned aerial vehicles, believed to be Shahed 107 models, infiltrated Israeli airspace from Lebanon via the Mediterranean Sea. IDF surveillance systems detected the drones and the Israeli Navy successfully intercepted one off the coast of Nahariya. The second drone, however, became the subject of an aerial pursuit involving fighter jets and combat helicopters. According to the preliminary findings, the IDF lost contact with this drone during the chase.

Video: Interception of a UAV at sea in the Karyot area (Credit: Usage under Israeli Intellectual Property Law Section 27a)

Several tense minutes passed before the drone detonated, resulting in injuries to 67 people, with four in critical condition. The Israeli Air Force is currently investigating the circumstances that led to the drone evading detection, noting that the loss of contact was the primary reason no warning was issued to residents in the affected area. Another piece of information that emerged only Tuesday was that residents of Yokne'am Illit said they reported seeing the drones several minutes before it hit, and passed it through to the IDF by calling the police, only to be told by the air force that "everything is in order."

Eli Bin, Director General of Magen David Adom, Israel's national emergency medical service, reported that among the 67 injured, four have died. An additional seven individuals suffered severe injuries, while the remainder experienced moderate to light wounds.

The injured were swiftly evacuated to various medical facilities across the region. Helicopters airlifted some of the wounded to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer and Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa. Ground ambulances transported others to Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera, HaEmek Medical Center in Afula, Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, Laniado Hospital in Netanya, and both Carmel Medical Center and Bnai Zion Medical Center in Haifa. Medical staff reported treating patients for shrapnel wounds and blast injuries.

Video: Ambulances leave to Sheba Medical Center (Credit: Sheba Medical Center)

The incident began when Hezbollah launched at least two drones into Israeli airspace. Air raid sirens blared across the Western Galilee at 6:50 PM, including in the cities of Acre and Nahariya, as Israel's air defense system successfully intercepted one of the drones. However, a second drone managed to penetrate deep into Israeli territory, eventually exploding in the Ramat Menashe area, just outside Binyamina, without triggering any local warnings. Hezbollah promptly claimed responsibility for the attack, framing it as retaliation for recent IDF operations in Lebanon, with a particular emphasis on strikes in Beirut.

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The groundbreaking tests involved the successful interception of unmanned aerial vehicles, mortars, rockets anti-tank missiles in a variety of simulated scenarios. 

The announcement puts Israel as the leader of the pack when it comes to the development of precise laser interceptors, which are considered less costly and easier to operate. in comparison with traditional methods. The system was developed under the auspices f the Defense Ministry and by Rafael Advanced Defense System and Elbit Sytems 

"A month ago we announced a major decision when we made a massive order for the development of this system, and today this big step becomes an accomplishment that is on a global scale," Defense Minister Benny Gantz said, calling it a "victory for Israeli innovation." He said the ministry will make sure it gets deployed as soon as possible so that it could complement the other interceptors Israel has at its disposal and improve the defense against rockets and missiles. 

Brig.-Gen. Yaniv Rotem, who heads the research and development unit at the ministry's Directorate of Defense Research and Development said this was a "game-changing" system. "The completion of these tests in this high-capacity laser shows that we are realizing the technological vision in energy warfare. For the first time, we managed to intercept a variety of threats from mortar shells, rockets and UAVs in challenging ranges and periods."

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Israel on Wednesday began deploying a new surveillance system in the country's north to detect incoming aerial threats, including from drones.

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The move came against the backdrop of a nationwide emergency drill simulating, among other scenarios, a host or airborne threats to Israeli communities in the country's north.

Following years of development and manufacturing, the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) in the Defense Ministry's Directorate of Defense R&D, the Israeli Air Force, and ELTA, an Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary and a prime contractor for the "Elevated Sensor" (ES) program, "began initial inflation operations" of the balloon on Wednesday, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The Defense Ministry said that "Tel Shamayam" (Hebrew for "Sky Dew") will assist security forces with the detection and tracking of both aerial and ground threats in the region.

The High Availability Aerostat System is one of the world's largest aerostats, and was developed under a cooperative program between the IMDO and the US Missile Defense Agency.

The ES system is comprised of the High Availability Aerostat System (HAAS) and advanced radar designed to detect incoming threats at long ranges when operating at high altitudes.

"It will provide additional detection and early warning capabilities to the existing operational air defense detection array deployed around Israel," the statement read.

"In several flight test campaigns conducted in recent months, we have demonstrated the outstanding capabilities of Israel's multi-tier missile defense – including against cruise missiles," said IMDO Director Moshe Patel.

"The IMDO and MDA, together with the IAF and defense industries are constantly improving Israel's threat detection capabilities. This aerostat system will cruise at high altitudes and provide an exceptional, multi-directional detection capability against advanced threats."

US Missile Defense Agency Director Vice Admiral Jon Hill said, "The Elevated Sensor is another great example of cooperation between the Missile Defense Agency, IMDO and industry partners. The co-developed technology and research is a benefit to both nations. Additionally, this system will further enhance Israel's advanced threat detection capabilities to maintain Israel's qualitative military edge."

IAF Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin said that "the IAF has both the defensive and offensive systems to defend the State of Israel and its sovereignty."

"The ES system will be a significant component in strengthening our capabilities to defend the country's borders against a variety of threats and will enable us to build a more accurate and broader air surveillance picture," he said.

IAI President and CEO, Boaz Levy said, "The ES system provides a significant technological and operational advantage for early and precise threat detection. This unique development is thanks to Israel Aerospace Industries' talented engineers, who worked night and day to develop this advanced technology. This technology increases the reliability of the aerial surveillance picture, and increases efficiency against a range of targets."

Last week, IAF officials noted the increased threat of drones, particularly Iranian drones located in several countries in the region, including Iraq and Yemen. Most of the details are classified, but it is known that these drones are capable of reaching Israel from thousands of kilometers away.

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Israel's current air defenses include the Iron Dome, designed to shoot down short-range rockets and drones, the Arrow system which intercepts ballistic missiles outside of the Earth's atmosphere, and the David's Sling missile defense system, which is designed to intercept tactical ballistic missiles, medium- to long-range rockets, as well as cruise missiles fired at ranges between 40-300 kilometers (25-186 miles).

Israel also has Patriot missile batteries stationed in the north of the country and has used them to intercept drones infiltrating Israeli airspace from Syria.

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As speculations grow about a possible Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear sites by Israel, the Iranian regime has increased its air defenses around the Fordo uranium enrichment facility in the north of the country, according to the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and Iranian media.

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On Thursday, Iran's air defense commander Alireza Sabahifard inaugurated a command and control facility of the Hazrat Masumeh Air Defense Group around the site, saying that Iran was expanding its air defense system and "the enemy should not even think of attacking Iran."

He also said Iran's air and cyber defense systems were exceptionally advanced.

Fordo is an underground facility for enriching uranium using IR2-M centrifuges. Tehran began enriching uranium at Fordo to 20% in January. At the same time, the Natanz enrichment facility in Isfah, central Iran, began enriching uranium to 60%.

A fire broke out in the Natanz facility in April 2021. In January 2013, an explosion occurred at a facility in Fordo and a nearby electrical facility.

Iranian Deputy Defense Minister Mahdi Farahi said that Tehran would soon launch a new and more advanced version of its Bavar-373 air defense system that could be as advanced, or even more, than Russia's S-400. Iran unveiled Bavar-373 in August 2019 after it independently developed a system in response to Russia's prohibition on exporting its defense system at the time, S-300, to Iran.

Farahi claimed the new system would be capable of identifying 300 targets simultaneously, tracking 60 of them, engaging six targets simultaneously, and even counter attempts to jam the system.

In June, Dmitry Shugaev, director of the Russian Military-Technical Cooperation Service, said that if the new Iranian system will indeed be better than Russia's S-400, then it will be capable of hitting targets within a 400-kilometer (250 miles) radius. He also said that during a visit to a military exhibition in Russia in 2020, the Iranian defense minister was interested in several Russian air defense systems, including the S-400.

Senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs Lt. Col. (ret.) Michael Segall said that due to past experience and sanctions imposed on Iran, the regime constantly strives to improve and upgrade the air defense of its nuclear sites and strategic infrastructure with systems of its own.

He stressed that Iran's acquisition of S-400 could lead to US sanctions on Russia, despite the fact that the United States has lifted the Iran embargo on arms exports and imports as part of the nuclear deal negotiations.

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The announcement comes at a time of rising tension between Iran and United States. Iran shot down a US military surveillance drone in the Persian Gulf with a surface-to-air missile in June. Tehran says the drone was over its territory, but Washington says it was in international airspace.

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State television showed the Falaq, a mobile radar and a vehicle housing a control room, which it said was an improved version of the Gamma, a system that military experts said was of Russian origin.

Western military analysts say Iran often exaggerates its weapons capabilities, though concerns about its long-range ballistic missile program contributed to Washington last year exiting the pact that Iran sealed with world powers in 2015 to rein in its nuclear ambitions in exchange for an easing of economic sanctions.

"This system has high capabilities and can detect all types of cruise and ballistic missiles and drones," Brig. Gen. Alireza Sabahifard, commander of the army's air defenses, was quoted as saying by semi-official news agency Mehr.

Sabahifard said the Falaq was a locally overhauled version of a system that had long been out of operation, according to the Mehr report. He did not give the system's country of origin.

The Falaq is a phased-array radar system that can be incorporated into Iran's larger integrated air defense, which includes an S-300 surface-to-air missile system that Russia delivered in 2016, state-run Press TV said.

"The [Falaq] system was developed in order to counter sanctions restricting access to spare parts of a previously foreign-developed system," according to the Press TV website.

US President Donald Trump reimposed sanctions on Tehran after pulling out of the nuclear deal, which its other signatories are struggling to maintain as Washington also lobbies to establish a maritime security coalition to safeguard shipping in the Gulf in a related standoff with Iran over oil supplies.

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