The Iron Dome was built to intercept the type of low-tech rockets fired by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza. Developed by the state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with U.S. support, it became operational in 2011. Each truck-towed unit can direct radar-guided missiles against short-range threats such as rockets, mortars and drones.
A key element of the Iron Dome is its control system’s ability to discern which incoming targets pose a threat. If an adversary’s rocket lands harmlessly — in an unpopulated area or at sea, for example — it won’t be intercepted. That makes it ideal for “saturation” scenarios in which an enemy tries to fire so many missiles that not all of them will be shot down, said Uzi Rubin, a senior fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security.
Video: Israel intercepts rockets fired from Lebanon
“Their radar and battle management systems are designed to handle a large number of targets simultaneously,” Rubin said. “Each launcher can fire its full load of 20 interceptors in about 10 seconds.”
When Hamas launched its attack on Israel in October 2023, it fired several thousand rockets at Israel, with a reported interception rate of around 90%. Rafael says that over the course of its service, Iron Dome has intercepted thousands of targets. The company says it delivered two Iron Dome batteries to the U.S. Army in 2020. Ukraine is seeking the system to protect cities in its war with Russia, but Israel has so far only provided kyiv with humanitarian support and civil defense supplies.
How Iron Dome Works
Iron Dome was initially announced to provide city-sized cover against rockets with a range of between 4 and 70 km (2.5 and 43 miles), but experts say this role has been expanded as the system has been improved over time. The systems work to create a protective space over Israeli cities and settlements. Any projectile deemed a threat can be targeted.
The mission of taking out numerous cheap, low-level threats means Iron Dome’s interceptors must also be inexpensive. Each Tamir missile costs about $50,000, Kalisky said, which is small potatoes compared with a multimillion-dollar Patriot missile. There’s also the price of not stopping an incoming threat, said Ankit Panda of the U.S.-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
“It’s not that Iron Dome is a 100 percent effective capability, but you have to consider the alternative” of enemy missiles doing much more damage, he said. The high rate of fire, especially during a full-blown conflict, puts a strain on any air defense system’s ammunition supply, Kalisky said. That’s why saturation attacks are an attractive tactic and why countries should stockpile air defense missiles, he added.
“It’s a problem with any kind of munition,” he said. “You have to prepare in advance. You have to prepare for that kind of attack.” Israel does not publish the number of Tamir interceptors it produces or stockpiles. Nor does it disclose the number of missiles fired by its air defense systems, although Kalisky said Iron Dome is designed to fire two missiles at each target.
The layers of defense and use of systems tailored to Israel’s specific situation make Iron Dome especially potent, Panda said. “I think Israel has the most effective missile defense solution for the threats it faces as a country,” he said. “It’s pretty clear that Iron Dome has a concept of operation that is incredibly effective.”
(With contributions from the agency)
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
We respect the intellectual property rights of content creators. If you are the owner of any material featured on our website and have concerns about its use, please contact us. We are committed to addressing any copyright issues promptly and will remove any material within 2 days of receiving a request from the rightful owner.