Why have Saudi air defences failed to intercept Houthi missiles?

Saudi Arabia has faced increasing challenges in defending against Houthi missile attacks on its King Khalid International Airport, King Abdullah Military City, and Saudi Aramco headquarters in Dhahran. Despite billions invested in air defenses, missiles and drones continue to reach their targets. Israel, with decades of experience developing aerial threat defenses, may offer assistance.

The kingdom operates American-made Patriot missile batteries and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), but Houthi weapons exploit different weaknesses. Ballistic missiles climb high before descending, while cruise missiles and drones fly at lower altitudes, sometimes evading radar detection. Drones are also cheaper, smaller, and slower than missiles, making them harder to intercept.

Saudi Arabia must identify each threat, choose the right interceptor, and respond quickly. A 2020 study documented the Houthis' growing arsenal of missiles and drones, developed with Iranian assistance. Recent attacks suggest a strategy of launching several threats in quick succession to overwhelm defenses.

Saudi Arabia's large land area, diverse terrain, and scattered population centers create geographic challenges for defense systems. Better coordination among existing radars, command systems, and interceptors is needed, along with more widely distributed equipment. Cost is another concern, as cheap drones can deplete interceptor stocks quickly.

Israel has developed several systems that could help Saudi Arabia: Iron Dome, David's Sling, Arrow 2, and Arrow 3. While Iron Dome and David's Sling protect against shorter-range threats, Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 are designed to intercept ballistic missiles and could strengthen Saudi defenses. However, these systems alone would not solve all of Saudi Arabia's challenges, given its vast territory and the variety of threats it faces.