Video shows Israel intercepting Iran’s missiles in space

This is undoubtedly one of the most visible manifestations of the conflict between Iran and Israel, who have been waging a shadow war for years. On the night of April 12 to 13, Tehran launched hundreds of drones and missiles against Tel Aviv – with the complicity of the Houthis in Yemen, who launched their own projectiles.

Officially, the Islamic Republic framed its attack as part of the right to self-defense. The country said its response was in response to the Israeli airstrike on April 1 that targeted its consulate in Damascus, Syria. It is too early to determine whether Israel will respond, very visibly or behind the scenes — although the official position appears to be ” fight back “.

The absence of a response is also a possibility, to avoid an escalation: Tel Aviv's restraint would not be unjustifiable. After all, Israel managed to neutralize the military counterattack thanks to a very efficient air defense system, and the support of several allied countries — including the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Jordan.

The results are indeed very favorable: according to the Israeli army, the interception rate of missiles and drones reached 99%. Around thirty injured is to be deplored, including one in critical condition. On the infrastructure side, two Israeli military bases were slightly damaged, as well as a military transport plane.

An exo-atmospheric interception

It was during this attack that an exceptional interception took place — in fact, Israeli defense means distinguished themselves by destroying at least one enemy projectile in space. A video filmed at night has been circulating since mid-April on social networks; it shows a very distant explosion, similar to a small fireworks display.

“ Unique footage shows exo-atmospheric interception during Iranian ballistic missile attack, likely by Arrow 3 air defense system “, writing on X (ex-Twitter) the journalist Emanuel Fabian. In the first video, we can hear the exclamation of surprise from people nearby.

According to Israeli forces, the attack mobilized three types of devices:

• Shahed-136 type drones, copies of which were sent by Iran to Russia to be used to attack Ukraine (Moscow also made copies). Around 170 drones were recorded in the attack;
• cruise missiles (around thirty), whose particularity is to fly in the atmosphere, at a more or less marked altitude;
• ballistic missiles (around 120), whose movement follows a parabolic (“bell-shaped”) trajectory. Here, the missile, from very high in the sky, can cross the limit of the atmosphere, before falling back to Earth towards its destination.

It was precisely one of these ballistic missiles that was intercepted in the exo-atmospheric zone.

This formula actually designates everything that is above 100 km altitude. By convention, we consider that the atmosphere stops here: this is the Kármán line. It was chosen because this is where the aerodynamic effects cease: the lift of an aircraft in flight is no longer assured (there is obviously no such clear demarcation).

It is unclear which model of Iranian missile was intercepted in outer space (others are presumed given the scale of the attack). According to the Iranian news agency ISNA, cited by Times of Israelnine types of Iranian missiles can reach Israel, including the SejilTHE Kheibar Shekan and the Haj Qasem.

These three missiles are from the family of ballistic projectiles. Among them, the Sejil is announced as capable of occasionally circulating in space, with a ceiling of up to 450 to 500 km. Its range is estimated at 1,500 to 2,500 km (several versions exist), which is sufficient to cover the distance separating the two countries.

An interception by the Arrow 3 missile… or the RIM-161 SM-3?

We know that Israel has an in-house anti-ballistic missile, the Arrow 3, whose system allows “ to engage ballistic missiles at longer range, at higher altitude (exo-atmospheric) and with more precision. » In the 2010s, tests were carried out to intercept threats in space. They had been described as conclusive.

It is probably this equipment – ​​developed with significant support from the United States, but also from Boeing, an American company – which was used to counter threats at an altitude of more than 100 km. THE New York Times reports its notable use during the Iranian attack, according to an Israeli military spokesperson.

Moreover, the Arrow 3 also has an interest in intercepting unconventional charges. The Arrow 3 could also counter nuclear missiles in flight, which also follow a ballistic trajectory. A significant asset, when Iran is rightly accused of having a secret military nuclear program.

A glimpse of the wars of tomorrow?

However, there is another possibility: that of a RIM-161 SM-3 (Standard Missile) missile launch. This is the track mentioned by Tyler Rogoway, the editor-in-chief of The War Zone. His magazine published an article titled: Everything indicates that the Navy's SM-3 interceptor against Iranian ballistic missiles will make its combat debut.

Of the ” signs indicate that the SM-3 may have been used. Numerous videos have been released (…), showing what appear to be exo-atmospheric intercepts over Israel, with visible plumes that could come from projectiles separating from the rest of an interceptor or from the actual impact of the projectile with the targeted missile », writes the site.

For Tyler Rogoway, “ here we could witness the operational debut of the navy's SM-3. We'll have to wait for details, but the mid-course interception capabilities they bring could have been key to strengthening Israel's ballistic missile defense. » However, the SM-3 is mainly used by the American army.

The SM-3 is part of the Aegis combat system and intercepting opposing missiles is exactly why Aegis has been conceived, notes Tyler Rogoway. Aegis, expanded to the ballistic threat team of the US Navy. It turns out that the USS Carney and the USS Arleigh Burke, two American ships, were mobilized to shoot down missiles.

The success of this general neutralization illustrates in any case the formidable effectiveness of Israeli air defense, which includes two systems, the Iron Dome and David's Sling – reinforced here by a few allied countries, as well as certain fighter planes of the Israeli Air Force.

Spectacular, this space combat between missiles is however not new. In November 2023, Israel would have already succeeded to intercept a Yemeni missile beyond the Earth's atmosphere. An event which could be a first in world military history, according to Le Figaro. In any case, an event which undoubtedly foreshadows the wars to come.