Israeli navy shoots down Iranian drones using new defence system

The Israeli military says it has intercepted eight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from Iran overnight, in what marks the first operational use of its new naval air defence system, "Barak Magen".

The drones were shot down by missile boats from the Navy's Flotilla 3, using the long-range "LRAD" interceptor system, which is installed on Sa’ar 6-class warships, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The IDF said the system is capable of countering a wide range of aerial threats, including cruise missiles, UAVs, steep-trajectory weapons, and anti-ship missiles.

"This is the first time the Barak Magen system and the LRAD interceptor have been used in combat," a military spokesperson confirmed.

The Israeli Navy said it has now intercepted approximately 25 drones since the start of the current round of hostilities, with naval units continuing to operate in coordination with the Air Force across multiple fronts.

The development comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with Israeli forces maintaining a high state of alert in response to threats from Iran and its regional proxies.

🇮🇱🇮🇷 Армия обороны Израиля: Восемь иранских беспилотников были перехвачены вчера вечером ракетными кораблями ВМС Израиля.

Впервые перехват был осуществлен с использованием системы ПВО «Барак Маген». Система ПВО «Барак Маген» и ракета-перехватчик дальнего радиуса действия LRAD… pic.twitter.com/GARaV6cflB

— Caliber (@Caliberaz) June 16, 2025

By Aghakazim Guliyev