Fight with Iran underscores importance of air defenses

The US and Israel's conflict with Iran has highlighted how central air defenses are in higher-intensity modern wars defined by long-range missile and drone attacks. The conflict, which killed Iran's Supreme Leader, has focused on either knocking out air defenses to permit strikes or relying on them to shield bases from retaliatory strikes.

US and Israeli strikes prioritized Iranian air-defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields. Israel used around 200 jets to hit roughly 500 targets, and Kuwait reported facing 97 ballistic missiles and 283 drones as installations hosting US troops were attacked.

US Central Command said it defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks with no casualties, employing MIM-104 Patriot and THAAD batteries alongside ship-launched interceptors and aircraft. That level of engagement strains air-defense inventories.

Iran

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