Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, Israel.
The Iron Dome, or 'Kippat Barzel' in Hebrew, is widely regarded as one of the most important tools in Israel’s arsenal. The missile defence system is said to have a near-mythical status among Israelis. Israel’s Defense Ministry claims that Iron Dome successfully intercepted 97% of all targets it engaged during a summer 2022 confrontation in which Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) fired rockets into Israel.
As the war against Hamas rages, Israel is once again relying on its Iron Dome to fend off attacks from the Palestinian terrorist group.
What exactly is Iron Dome
According to a Congressional Research Service report, the Iron Dome is a mobile anti-rocket, anti-mortar and anti-artillery system that can intercept launches from 2.5 to 43 miles away, or 4 to 70 kilometres. It then sends information about the rocket’s path to the command-and-control centre. The Iron Dome is a series of batteries that use radars to detect incoming short-range rockets and intercept them. According to Raytheon, the US defence giant that co-produces the system with Israel's Rafael Defense Systems, each battery has three or four launchers, 20 missiles, and a radar. As of 2021, Israel is said to have at least ten Iron Dome batteries deployed throughout the country, each designed to defend a 60-square-mile populated area.
When was Iron Dome first put in use
Development on the Iron Dome first began in the year 2007. After tests in 2008 and 2009, the first Iron Dome batteries were deployed in 2011. Israel activated the Iron Dome in 2011. The system has been “tested consistently” since first being put to use in April 2011.
How does Iron Dome work
The Iron Dome radar identifies an incoming rocket within its range, from the battery and sends information about the rocket’s path to the command-and-control centre. The control centre calculates the location of impact and predicts whether the rocket is going to strike inhabited areas. If so, it launches a missile to intercept and destroy the rocket. However, if the system determines that the rocket is headed to an open area or into the sea, it is allowed to land, thus conserving missiles. According to the military, all interceptions occur in Israeli airspace.
Cost of Iron Dome
Each missile is reported to cost an estimated $40,000 to $50,000, according to the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv think tank. The US too has invested heavily in the system, helping with development costs and replenishing it during major conflicts. US President Joe Biden recently said that he will ask Congress for $14.3 billion in military aid for Israel. “We’re surging additional military assistance, including ammunition and interceptors to replenish Iron Dome,” Biden said.
Who has made Iron Dome
Iron Dome has been developed by Israel-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with US backing.
How is Iron Dome different from air defence system
Unlike air defence systems designed to stop ballistic missiles, the Iron Dome warhead targets unguided rockets that remain at low altitudes. These are reported to be the type often fired by militant groups in Gaza.
(With agency inputs)
