The Iron Dome, also known as the Iron Dome, is the missile defense system that protects Israel from aerial attacks coming from rockets, mortars, and drones. This system was specifically designed to intercept short-range threats, those traveling between 4 and 70 kilometers.
Its effectiveness has been proven on multiple occasions, with a success rate close to 90%, making it one of the most advanced defenses in the world. Developed by the state-owned company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with financial support from the United States, the Iron Dome began operating in 2011 in response to rocket attacks from Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
Israel's main defense faces its trial by fire
The attacks that occurred in 2011, carried out by groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, represented a constant threat to Israel's urban and strategic areas. Since its implementation, the now acclaimed as infamous security system has intercepted more than 2,000 projectiles.
The system consists of three main components: a detection and tracking radar, a weapons control and battle management system (BMC), and a Tamir missile launcher. The radar detects the launch of an enemy rocket and calculates its trajectory. If the system determines that the rocket will impact a populated or strategic area, the Tamir missile launcher is activated to intercept the threat in the air before it causes damage.
One of the most outstanding features of the Iron Dome is its ability to discriminate between rockets that pose a real threat and those that will fall in uninhabited areas. This selectivity helps reduce the cost of operations, as each Tamir missile costs approximately between 35,000 and 50,000 dollars.
Israel's Iron Dome remains its greatest ally
The system is highly mobile, allowing it to be quickly deployed in different areas of Israel. A full battery of the Iron Dome can protect large areas, and the country currently has at least 10 batteries in operation.
The Iron Dome is part of a broader defense system that includes other components, such as David’s Sling and the Arrow system, designed to intercept longer-range missiles. Together, these systems form a defensive shield capable of neutralizing threats both inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere.