A breakdown of military power. Who has the stronger war chest in the Israel-Iran war?

Iran’s air defences are getting an upgrade, but they’re still a bit patchy. They’ve brought in Russian S-300 systems and rolled out some homegrown tech like the Bavar-373 and Khordad-15, which Iran claims are on par with Russia’s top-tier S-400s. But recent Israeli airstrikes seem to have punched through with ease, suggesting there are still some major gaps when it comes to how well these systems actually work together in a real fight.

Meanwhile, Israel has built one of the most advanced missile defence setups on the planet. It’s got layers, literally. The Iron Dome takes care of short-range rockets, David’s Sling handles medium-range threats, and the Arrow systems go after long-range ballistic missiles. All of this was developed with help from the U.S., and since 2011, these defences have intercepted thousands of incoming threats. In 2024, they were crucial in blocking Iran’s retaliatory attacks, proving just how battle-tested the whole system is.

Israel's Iron Dome air defence system

The verdict? Israel’s missile defence game is rock solid, battle-tested and high-tech. Some recent proof below.