The low number of launchers seriously damages Iran’s ability to launch hundreds of missiles in a single “saturation” salvo to overwhelm the Iron Dome and Arrow systems.
By Hezy Laing
In a systematic air campaign that has redefined modern strategic warfare, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) has successfully achieved the progressive destruction of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s mobile and silo-based missile launcher fleet.
This multi-year operation, accelerated during the recent escalation of Operation “Roaring Lion” has effectively crippled Tehran’s ability to project power and maintain its long-standing doctrine of regional deterrence.
Two years ago, Western intelligence estimates placed Iran’s strategic arsenal at approximately 3,500 ballistic missiles supported by a fleet of roughly 600 to 800 mobile Transporter Erector Launchers (TELs).
These mobile units were the backbone of Iran’s “missile cities,” designed to be hidden in underground tunnels and deployed rapidly to prevent pre-emptive strikes.
However, a relentless campaign of “between-the-wars” strikes (MABAM) and recent high-intensity sorties has decimated this inventory.
By early 2025, through a series of precision strikes on manufacturing hubs and storage depots, the number of operational launchers was estimated to have dropped to approximately 450 units.
Following the massive IAF strikes on February 28, 2026, which targeted the IRGC’s Command and Control infrastructure, current estimates suggest that Iran’s functional launcher fleet has been degraded to fewer than 180 units.
This represents a staggering 75% reduction in launch capacity over a 24-month period.
The tactical impact of this degradation was laid bare during the most recent exchanges.
While Iran previously boasted the capability to launch hundreds of missiles in a single “saturation” salvo to overwhelm the Iron Dome and Arrow systems, the most recent retaliatory attempts saw a significant drop in volume.
During the peak of the current conflict, Iran managed to launch a maximum of only 30 missiles simultaneously.
This low volume is a direct consequence of the IAF’s focus on the “launchers” rather than just the “projectiles.”
Without the specialized vehicles and calibrated platforms required to fire these weapons, Iran’s remaining missile stock remains grounded and useless.
As the IAF continues to hunt the remaining mobile units across the Iranian plateau, the regime’s “firepower umbrella” has effectively folded, leaving its nuclear and military sites increasingly vulnerable to uncontested aerial supremacy.
