At the heart of Israel’s long-range deterrence is the Jericho missile series.
By Hezy Laing
While Israel is famous for its missile defense systems, it also possesses one of the most advanced and diverse missile arsenals in the Middle East. These are designed to serve both strategic deterrence and tactical precision across multiple domains: air, land and sea. Israel’s missile development is deeply rooted in decades of domestic innovation, foreign collaboration, and battlefield necessity.
Strategic Ballistic Missiles (larger payloads and distance)
At the heart of Israel’s long-range deterrence is the Jericho missile series:
Jericho I: Short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), now obsolete.
Jericho II: Medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), with a range of 1,500–3,500 km.
Jericho III: Intercontinental-range ballistic missile (IRBM), estimated to reach 4,800–6,500 km. It’s widely believed to be capable of carrying nuclear payloads, though Israel maintains a policy of ambiguity regarding its nuclear arsenal.
Tactical and Precision Strike Missiles (smaller payloads and distance)
Israel’s tactical arsenal includes:
LORA: A short-range ballistic missile with pinpoint accuracy, range up to 280 km.
Delilah: A loitering cruise missile with a range of 250–300 km, capable of mid-flight retargeting.
Popeye (AGM-142): Air-launched cruise missile used for deep strike missions.
Rampage & Sky Sniper: Long-range air-to-ground missiles designed to penetrate heavily defended targets.
Anti-Ship and Air-to-Air Missiles
Gabriel: A family of anti-ship missiles with ranges from 35 to 400 km.
Python series: Short-range air-to-air missiles, including the advanced Python 5, capable of high maneuverability and infrared homing.
Derby: Medium-range radar-guided air-to-air missile used by Israeli fighter jets.
This arsenal reflects Israel’s strategic doctrine: preemptive capability, rapid response, and layered defense. It allows the country to strike with precision, deter regional adversaries, and defend against a wide spectrum of missile threats.
Why Israel Didn’t Use Long-Range Ballistic Missiles in War with Iran
Instead of relying heavily on long-range ballistic missiles like the Jericho III, Israel chose to focus on airpower, particularly its fleet of F-35 stealth fighters, which proved highly effective in penetrating Iranian air defenses and striking high-value targets. These aircraft allowed for precision strikes, real-time adjustments, and minimized collateral damage—advantages that fixed ballistic missile trajectories cannot offer.
While the IDF had the capability to “pulverize Iran’s nuclear facilities almost at will,” leaders like Prime Minister Netanyahu and defense chiefs ultimately held back. Concerns included escalation risks, potential civilian casualties, and the possibility of drawing in other regional powers or triggering a broader war.
Another factor was Iran’s missile defense systems, particularly the Russian-made S-300, which posed a challenge to traditional missile attacks. Israeli planners believed that air-based strikes offered better odds of success against these defenses, especially given the stealth capabilities of the F-35.
Moreover, Israel’s missile arsenal is considered a strategic deterrent, especially the Jericho series, which is widely believed to be nuclear-capable. Using such weapons in a conventional war could undermine their deterrent value and provoke international backlash.
In short, Israel didn’t need to use its full missile arsenal—its air superiority, intelligence dominance, and surgical strike capabilities were sufficient to achieve its objectives.
