The price of the war with Iran: have the Americans run out of interceptors?

Colombia criticizes Israel, but implements an air defense system made by it

Colombian President Gustavo Petro is one of the most prominent anti-Israel figures in the world, who during the war accused her of committing “genocide” and even called for the establishment of an “army for the liberation of Palestine”. However, a report published on the Latin ZM website reflects that in the field he continued strategic implementation processes of Barak MX air defense systems of the Aerospace Industry, which won a tender for approximately 131.2 million dollars in 2022.

According to ZM, the Colombian Air Force is currently carrying out the processes of the first battery of the system, including the command and control systems and the radars. All the purchased batteries are expected to be delivered by 2026, with the full operational deployment expected to be completed by 2032. In Bogotá, great importance is attached to the move both due to the interception capabilities and due to the upgrade of the radars it entails.

The Barak MX system supports various radars and launchers for cover against fighter jets, helicopters, UAVs, cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles and surface-to-surface missiles. The system is based on a smart and operationally proven control center, which allows the integration of additional interceptor missiles: the Barak MRAD short-range interceptor is launched vertically at high speed, adapted to deal with threats at a range of up to 35 km and includes a radar homing warhead with only one pulse engine; The medium-range LRAD lightning interceptor is launched vertically at high speed, is adapted to deal with threats at a range of up to 70 km and includes a radar homing warhead with a two-pulse engine; And the Barak ER long-range interceptor is launched vertically and includes an accelerator engine, a two-pulse rocket engine and an advanced radar homing head. Increasing the interception range of the Barak ER is done by adding a rocket booster and adjusting the communication and radar capabilities to a range of 150 km.

Under the influence of the war against Iran, the US was left with a shortage of interceptors

The American Missile Defense Agency (MDA) suffers from a gap between the purchase of THAAD interceptors and supplies, while missiles purchased in 2021 are not expected to be received before April 2027. This is reported on the Breaking Defense website. The THAAD system (acronym for “high-altitude spatial defense”) was developed by Lockheed Martin. The system is designed to intercept ballistic missiles, and hits threats directly to intercept them (Hit to Kill).

It became widely known in Israel, when in October 2024 the Americans decided to deploy a battery in Israel. According to a report on a Bulgarian military website after an operation with a dog, in the 12 days of the war with Iran, the US launched about 15%-20% of all THAAD interceptors in the world, with a total value of more than 800 million dollars. In a study carried out at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), it was noted that the US has eight THAAD batteries, each with six launchers and eight interceptors per launcher.

Breaking Defense estimates that during the war American air defense fighters launched about 100-250 THAAD interceptors. “If the estimates of 150 interceptors are correct,” they wrote in CSIS, “then this means that about 54 additional interceptors from the backup stock were used. This leaves only about 96 interceptors to fill for two batteries.”

The Aerospace Industry inaugurated an innovation center in Azerbaijan

The Aerospace Industry, the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) of Azerbaijan and the local space agency Azarcosmos inaugurated the Wistar Innovation Center. The institution aims to promote education for innovation in the country, the development of start-ups, and entrepreneurship, focusing on the fields of space, AI and algorithmics. The initiation event was attended by a number of senior officials, including the CEO of IAI Boaz Levy, senior officials from the Holon Institute of Technology (HIT) and the ambassador to Baku, Ronan Kraus.

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev, one of the leading figures in Baku, was present at the event. “We encourage the expansion of cooperation with a number of senior international technology leaders,” said Nabiev. “We call on them to come to Azerbaijan and implement the projects that are beneficial to both sides. The new center of excellence will give a boost to the development of the local start-ups and in general to the entrepreneurial spirit that exists in Azerbaijan.”

Aerospace Industries CEO Boaz Levy said at the event that the establishment of the project reflects the consistent development of relations between Azerbaijan and Israel. “There have always been relations based on mutual trust between the countries, and today another step was taken to strengthen cooperation in the technological field. The Wistar Center will create new opportunities for entrepreneurs, and therefore will enable a more dynamic development of technological cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel.”