Egozi: Iranian UAS Threat

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By Arie Egozi

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have recently deployed a very advanced radar near the border with Gaza, to handle attacks by unmanned drones and UAS.

Israeli experts say that in any confrontation between U.S and Iranian forces, armed UAS and drones will be operated massively by Iran.

The advanced radar spotted on the Gaza border with Israel is the ELTA ELM-2084 Multi-Mission Radar (MMR). It fuses additional ELTA sensors to the main MMR system, thereby providing an active, passive, and combined Air Situational Picture (ASP).

According to ELTA , the electronics subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the latest version of this radar has additional passive sensors that increase the capability of the radar to detect many types of targets. including rockets and drones.

The deployment of this advanced radar on the border with Gaza reflects the growing threat from armed UAS and drones.

In recent years, Iran has developed a massive UAS force that may take part in any future confrontation with the U.S and other countries, if Tehran continues its gallop towards a military nuclear capability.

Israel has been following closely the Iranian effort and Israeli experts say that while in the past the Iranian UAS looked like cheap copies of UAS operated by other countries, now they are “operational systems”.

In March 2019, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) held a drill codenamed “Towards Jerusalem 1,” near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. 

During this drill, the IRGC flew about 50 “offensive and combat” drones in the Persian Gulf, including the “Saegheh” UAS based, according to Tehran, on the American RQ-170’s, flying wing design.

According to sources the UAS flew for about 1000 KM.

According to the Israeli experts, the acquisition and introduction into service of armed drones led Iran to change its airpower doctrine. The use of low-cost, low-risk tools such as drones is in line with Iran’s defense doctrine. Armed drones are viewed by Iran as a way to compensate for the vulnerabilities of its conventional air force. 

Iranian-made UAS entered the Israeli airspace from Lebanon. These were operated by Iran’s proxy, the Hezbollah terror organization.

Israel has identified the fast growing threat posed by armed UAS and drones and has invested in countermeasures.

The most advanced system is the Rafael’s “Drone Dome” .The system uses an advanced radar to detect the UAS and a laser-beam system for destroying it.

“Drone Dome” also features a jamming system for disrupting communications between the drone and its operator. Drone Dome’s range reaches several miles, but causes minimal interruptions to other systems in nearby urban areas.