The Empire Strikes Back
Russia’s Oreshnik missile and the illusion of “quasi-nuclear” deterrence
09/02/2025
Dr. Rubin was founder and first director (1991-1999) of the Israel Missile Defense Organization in the Israel Ministry of Defense, which developed, produced and deployed the country’s first national defense shield – the Arrow missile. He subsequently served as Senior Director for Proliferation and Technology in the National Security Council (1999-2001), and directed several defense programs at the Israel Aerospace Industries and in the defense ministry. He was twice awarded the Israel Defense Prize (1996 and 2003). He was also awarded the US Missile Defense Agency “David Israel” Prize (2000). He has been a visiting scholar at the Stanford Center for International Security and Arms Control, where he directed a study on missile proliferation.
Russia’s Oreshnik missile and the illusion of “quasi-nuclear” deterrence
The answer to this question is multi-faceted and will only become clear if a full investigation into the events of October 7, 2023, is conducted. However, we can already say that the IDF overly relied on SIGINT and that it ignored one fundamental military principle: never underestimate the enemy.
A lecture by Dr. Uzi Rubin, July 16, 2024.
While the effectiveness of the anti-ship weapons used by the Houthis against cargo vessels and warships appears to be quite limited – both due to technical restrictions and interception by US and UK warships – they still are effective enough to threaten freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and disrupt maritime supply lines from East Asia to Europe and the Middle East. If the current “Swords of Iron” campaign escalates into a full-scale war along Israel’s northern border, decision-makers in Jerusalem will have to take into account the potential of Hezbollah and pro-Iranian militias in Syria and Iraq to employ similar weapons and tactics to disrupt Israel’s maritime supply lines in the Mediterranean.
“Ayesh 250” was fired toward IDF Northern Command headquarters in Safed. Hamas’ flagship rocket, named after terrorist mastermind, was intercepted and destroyed by Israel’s David Sling.
‘Air and missile defence is a strategic asset, equal with nuclear weapons’
Arrow 3, Germany and the missile shield over Europe
How Israel’s premier defense missile system developed and eventually became the system being used to defend Europe.
Will the rocket threat from Jenin match that from Gaza?
What are the prospects that the terrorist organizations in Northern Samaria will acquire missile capabilities equal to those of Hamas and Palestinian Jihad in Gaza? Israel needs to prepare for what may soon transpire inside Palestinian cities.
A briefing by expert of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security
A briefing by experts of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security
