Iron Dome of Israel

May 13, 2021

Recently, Israel and Palestine engaged in air strikes. It all began with Israeli Police installing a barricade at the Damascus Gate. Later the tensions escalated due to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by the Israeli police.

To this, the Hamas group from Gaza retaliated with rockets. These rockets were intercepted by Israeli Iron Dome. It was as if the rockets were hitting some invisible shield.

What is Iron Dome?

It is an air defence system.
It neutralises any missiles or rockets.
It is a short-range ground air-to-air defence system.
It is used to counter rockets, mortars, aircraft, helicopters, mortars artillery and unmanned vehicles.

Birth of Iron Dome

In 2006, during the Israeli-Lebanon war, Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets in to Israel. Following this, Israel announced that the Rafael Advance System run by the Government of Israel will develop an air defence system to protect its people and cities. Thus Iron Dome was developed by Israel.

About Iron Dome

It was deployed in 2011.
According to Rafael Advance Systems, the Iron Dome has so far made more than two thousand interceptions. Its success rate is more than 90%.
It is capable of protecting forward operating bases, urban areas, deployed and manoeuvring forces.
It shall be used in all weather conditions. Also, it can be operated during the day and at night.
The cost of interceptor Tamir Missile is 80,000 USD. Its battery and full unit costs 50 million USD.

Working of Iron Dome

When the interceptor sensor of the iron dome senses an incoming rocket, it detonates its own rocket and sends out fragments. If the timing is right, then the fragments of the detonated rocket will hit the rocket warhead. However, the interceptor approaches the rocket is critical. It intercepts missiles in all directions. That is, Front Approach, Rear Approach and Side Approach.

It has three main systems. All the three systems act together to provide a shied over a defined area. The three systems are as follows: