How Iron Dome, THAAD, and Patriot Actually Work: Missile Defense Explained

By Science ABC

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How do missile defense systems actually intercept incoming missiles? In this video, we explain missile defense in simple words — from the "hitting a bullet with another bullet" challenge, to how satellites and radar track launches within seconds, the three phases of a ballistic missile's flight (boost, midcourse, terminal), the layered defense architecture used by Iron Dome, THAAD, Patriot, Arrow 3, and David's Sling, and why no missile defense system is ever 100% perfect. Whether you're curious about how Iron Dome stops rockets mid-flight, how THAAD intercepts threats in space, or why hitting a Mach 10 warhead is one of the hardest problems in modern warfare, this beginner-friendly animated explainer covers it all. CHAPTERS: 0:00 – The challenge: hitting a bullet with another bullet 0:07 – How missiles are detected 0:33 – Phase 1: Boost phase 0:54 – Phase 2: Midcourse phase 1:25 – How threats are prioritized 1:54 – Layered defense architecture 2:52 – Phase 3: Terminal phase 3:11 – H

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