Israel is in the process of developing an anti-hypersonic missile system, known as the “Sky Sonic” system, that will reportedly be able to shoot down hypersonic missiles, according to an announcement made by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems on Wednesday.

Rafael's Chairman, Yuval Steinitz, said the Sky Sonic defense missile system is “versatile and can hit all hypersonic missiles, flying high or low, maneuvering more or less.”

According to Steinitz, the new defense system “is already in development for a solution. If someone thought we are going downward in defense, we are deep into this.”

Rafael's CEO Yoav Har-Even said that Israel had been working on the project for some time.

“We decided three years ago before the public started talking about it…we identified this as the next thing which must have a solution."

The news of Israel’s 'anti-hypersonic' missile system comes just a week after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force announced the release of a hypersonic missile at an event in Tehran.

The IRGC claimed that their Fattah missile could break through all missile defense systems.

“This new missile passes through all missile shield systems, and I don't think there will be technology to fight it for decades to come. It targets enemy anti-missile systems and is a major generational leap in the missile field,” IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Brig.-Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh said when the missile was first announced in November.

Iran’s hypersonic missile allegedly has a range of 1,400 km (approx 870 miles), according to Iranian officials, which means it would have the ability to reach Israel.

Both Russia and China claim they have hypersonic missiles. China tested its first hypersonic missile in August 2021.

This article originally appeared on All Israel News and is reposted with permission.