What it is about
The missile fired at Israel by the Houthi rebels from Yemen was not a hypersonic missile, contrary to their claims, but an enhanced ballistic missile with Iranian input. This clarification comes from Dr. Benveniste Natan, a noted Aerospace Engineering professor at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.
Why it matters
The significance of this revelation lies in the misinformation regarding the capabilities of weapons used by hostile entities against Israel. The actual capability of the missile highlights potential overstatements by adversaries and clarifies the level of threat faced.
Dissecting the Claim
Dr. Benveniste Natan explained that while the Houthis claimed to have launched a hypersonic missile aimed at Tel Aviv, the missile in question was, in fact, a traditional surface-to-surface ballistic missile, albeit modified by Iranian technology. He emphasized the complexity and advanced technology required for developing true hypersonic missiles, which travel five times the speed of sound, a feat Iran and Yemen are currently not equipped to achieve.
Breakdown of the Missile’s Flight
The missile fired from Yemen had a flight duration of 11 and a half minutes before disintegrating upon re-entry into the atmosphere. Although interceptors like the Arrow and Iron Dome were deployed, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the missile’s disintegration at high altitude minimized its threat, squashing claims that the interceptors failed to neutralize it.
The Bigger Picture
This incident underscores the criticality of advanced defense systems such as Israel’s Iron Dome and Arrow, and highlights the necessity of accurate intelligence to counter misinformation and understand the true nature of threats faced by the nation.
Technological Capabilities
Natan mentioned that while countries like Russia and western militaries continue to develop hypersonic missile technology, their successes and failures imply enormous technical challenges. Current developments suggest milestones far beyond Yemen’s or Iran’s reach, reaffirming the Israeli assessments of the actual threats they pose.
This story was first published on jpost.com.