What is the Iron Dome Defense System?
The Iron Dome Defense System is an Israeli rocket-based defense system developed after the 2006 “summer war” with Lebanon. It is designed to intercept rockets from 4-70 km away as well as shells and mortars and is manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It can also detect incoming missiles from up to 100 km away, which lets it predetermine the required launch angle. It is not designed to stop ballistic missiles and it is also smaller than the “Patriot” missiles used by the U.S. starting during the gulf war. It is considered to be the best-tested missile defense due to constant war in the region.
How does it work?
The system uses radar to calculate where the rocket is on track to strike, followed by a relay to the command center of the battery. It then lets the rockets that aren’t on track to hit a populated area (which are usually used to overload the system) fall out of the sky and then only targets the missiles that are meant to hit a populated area. The missile used by the system is known as a “Tahir” missile. It uses an advanced GPS/laser system to track it’s target, and once it’s within 10 meters of the projectile, the proximity detonator explodes. When the detonator explodes, the fragmentation warhead activates, widening the blast radius. It destroys around 90% of all rockets fired into their range. This system fails most often when approaching it’s target at a 90 degree angle because this detonation only extends horizontally.
How much does it cost? It is an expensive system with each rocket costing around $50,000 and each battery costing around $150 million.
Who owns it? Israel is currently the only country with this missile system. The U.S. is also considering getting this system.
Are there any similar missile systems? There is the previously mentioned patriot system and Israel also has the David’s sling (medium range ballistic missiles), arrow 3 (ICBM), and THAAD (short-range ballistic missiles) defense systems.
How many rockets has it intercepted? It has intercepted over 5,000 different missiles.
Are there any other versions of this? There is a naval version of the Iron Dome built to defend a ship fleet. There is also a system known as Drone Dome which uses drones to intercept.
Who built it? Rafael Advanced Defense Systems built the Iron Dome with U.S. aid.
What type of rocket is it meant to destroy? It is meant to destroy the small rockets used by islamist movement Hamas (these missiles are about 3 feet tall and cost $80 each).
Why is it so expensive? This system is very expensive because of the high-tech systems used to identify enemy and friendly rockets as well as the laser system used by the Tahir missile.
Can it defend against ballistic missiles? No it cannot, however, the other systems (david’s sling, arrow 3, thaad) can.
Related stories:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-20385306
https://www.rtx.com/raytheon/what-we-do/integrated-air-and-missile-defense/irondome
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Dome
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