Tensions between Israel and Iran are escalating. In recent days, Israel has targeted the Chief of General Staff, the Commander of the Revolutionary Guards and many other high-ranking figures with attacks on high-level military targets on Iranian soil. The residences where these figures live were directly hit in these attacks. It has been reported that many civilians have also lost their lives as a result of the attacks.

In response to these operations by Israel, Iran first responded with ballistic missiles. Most of the dozens of missiles sent were destroyed in the air by Israel’s air defense system, the Iron Dome. However, some missiles reached their targets and caused damage to residential areas and infrastructure.

The most striking development was Iran’s second wave of attacks a day later. This time, hypersonic missiles (Fettah-Fettah 2) were also deployed along with the ballistic missiles. It was seen that the Iron Dome was inadequate to stop these missiles.

The hypersonic ammunition that reached Israeli territory hit many strategic targets, including air defense batteries and command centers. So what is this hypersonic missile and how does it work?

What are hypersonic missiles, how do they work, how much damage do they cause?

Hypersonic missiles are among the new generation ammunition that can reach speeds of at least five times the speed of sound (Mach 5) and above. This speed is approximately 1.7 kilometers per second. Thanks to their aerodynamic structure and maneuverability, they can move in unpredictable trajectories both in the upper atmosphere and at lower altitudes.

These missiles are divided into two main categories: hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV) and hypersonic cruise missiles. Glider-type systems are usually carried to a certain height with a ballistic carrier and then glide towards the target.

Cruise missiles, on the other hand, travel at a constant and high speed thanks to scramjet technology, which works similarly to an aircraft engine. Unlike classic ballistic missiles, both types can change direction in the atmosphere. This makes them more difficult targets for existing radar and air defense systems.

The hit rate of hypersonic missiles is quite high. In modern models, the deviation margin can be limited to a few meters. Although the warheads they carry vary depending on their type, there is a wide spectrum from conventional explosives to nuclear warheads. Due to their speed, they can also cause high damage with kinetic energy at the time of impact. This type of missile can cause serious structural damage even in a facility that has not received a direct hit.

Recent attacks have once again demonstrated that it is not possible to provide absolute protection with only one type of air defense system in modern war conditions. The Iron Dome used by Israel is an extremely effective system against short and medium-range rockets. However, this system cannot provide sufficient protection for threats such as hypersonic missiles that are high-speed, can change direction and travel at high altitudes.

This situation is not unique to Israel. All modern armies around the world need multi-layered air defense architectures due to the diversity of threats. A similar understanding is adopted in systems similar to the Steel Dome developed by Turkey.

In the layered defense structure, different systems with appropriate sizes, ranges and response times for each type of threat work together. For example, low-altitude mini UAVs, medium-range cruise missiles and high-altitude hypersonic missiles are stopped not by the same system but by different layers.

For effective defense against hypersonic missiles, new technologies are needed other than traditional radars and kinetic destruction systems. Solutions such as advanced infrared detection, satellite-supported tracking systems and directed energy weapons may be more effective in responding to this threat in the future.

As we mentioned, Israel’s Iron Dome system has a high success rate against short-range rocket attacks and has neutralized thousands of rockets to date. However, the hypersonic missile threat is outside the scope of this system.