Hello everyone you are watching another episode of Military TV.
Today, the world’s militaries of both state and non-state actors are engaged in a technological
arms race. As is clearly known, Israel’s technological dominance
is indisputable. This happens when a country is under threat, such as the following incidents.
Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, fired rockets into northern Israeli population centers in the 1990s,
posing a security challenge for the Israel Defense Forces. During the 2006 Second Lebanon War,
approximately 4,000 Hezbollah-fired rockets landed in northern Israel, including on Haifa,
the country's third-largest city. The rocket barrage killed 44 Israeli civilians and caused
some 250,000 Israeli citizens to evacuate and relocate to other parts of Israel while
an estimated 1 million Israelis were confined in or near bomb shelters during the conflict.
To the south, more than 8,000 projectiles were fired indiscriminately into Israeli
population centers from Gaza between 2000 and 2008, principally by Hamas. Almost all of the
rockets fired were Qassams launched by 122 mm Grad launchers smuggled into the Gaza Strip,
giving longer range than other launch methods. Nearly a million Israelis living in the south
were within rocket range, posing a serious security threat to the country and its citizens.
In February 2007, Defense Minister Amir Peretz selected Iron Dome as Israel's defense against
this short-range rocket threat. That's why any thoughts of an invulnerable missile shield
evaporated when those incidents happened. So, let's know more about Iron Dome.
We start with the question of what is the Iron Dome Defense System and how effective is it?
The “Iron Dome” is a mobile defense system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and
Israel Aerospace Industries developed, produced and fielded in 2011 to intercept and destroy
short-range rockets, artillery shells and mortars fired from distances of up to 45 miles, to protect
civilian areas in the path of such projectiles. The system uses a unique interceptor with a
special warhead that detonates any target in the air within seconds. The Iron Dome also a
cost-effective system that can handle multiple threats simultaneously and efficiently. The
Iron Dome system has been selected by the Israeli Defense Ministry as the best system
offering the most comprehensive defense solution against a wide range of threats in a relatively
short development cycle and at a low cost. Israeli defense contractor Rafael Advanced
Defense Systems Ltd., the company developing the Iron Dome, lists the defense system as an
“affordable” solution. However, the surface-to-air missile battery comes with a steep price tag. Each
battery of the Iron Dome costs about $50 million while each individual missile costs is $40,000.
Iron Dome has different variants such as the I-DOME, it is fully mobile and fits on a single
truck, and the C-DOME, it is the naval version of the system. The US version, called SKY HUNTER,
is manufactured by Rafael and Raytheon. For its design, Iron Dome is composed
of three fundamental elements:  Detection and tracking radar
 Battle Management and Weapon Control system, and  Missile firing unit with 20 ready to fire
from container-launchers (three launchers for one single battery).
The radar system EL/M-2084 has been developed by an Israeli defense company, Elta. The control
system has been built by an Israeli software company, mPrest Systems, engaged by Rafael.
The missile launched by the firing unit of Iron Dome includes Tamir interceptor missiles. It has
several steering fins for high maneuverability and is equipped with electro-optic sensors.
In addition, the Tamir interceptor was designed for high efficiency and low cost. The missile has
3 m long, weighs 90 kg with 160 mm diameter and it could reach 5,000 to 70,000 m range.
And Now let’s see how it works, it is a three-piece system of interceptor batteries
that shoot rockets out of the sky. A radar tracks the rocket as it is fired across the border into
Israel, and then advanced software predicts the rocket's trajectory. The information it provides
is used to guide Tamir interceptor missiles, which are fired from the ground to blow the rocket into
harmless pieces in the sky. Besides, the Iron Dome functions by detecting, analyzing and
intercepting varieties of targets such as mortars, rockets, and artillery. It also has all-weather
capabilities and is able to function night or day, and in all conditions, including fog, rain,
dust storms and low clouds. It is able to launch a variety of interceptor missiles.
Today, Israel is protected by 10 “Iron Dome” batteries, functioning to protect the country’s
infrastructure and citizens. Each battery is able to defend up to 60 square miles. They are
strategically placed around Israel’s cities in order to intercept projectiles headed towards
these populated areas. Implementing artificial intelligence technology, the “Dome” system is able
to discriminate whether the incoming threats will land in a populated or in an uninhabited area,
ignoring them in the latter case, consequently reducing the cost of operation and keeping
unnecessary defensive launches to a minimum. However, if the “Dome” determines that the rocket
is projected to land in an inhabited area, the interceptor is fired towards the rocket. A radar
steers the missile until the target is acquired with an infrared sensor. The interceptor must be
quickly maneuverable because it must intercept rudimentary rockets that are little more than
a pipe with fins welded onto it, which makes them liable to follow unpredictable courses.
It can be assumed that the launchers of the rockets know as little as the Israelis
as to where the rockets would end up landing. For your information, Iron Dome has received U.S.
funding that tops about $500 million annually for joint air defense projects with Israel.
In August 2020, Rafael and American firm Raytheon Technologies agreed to a joint venture to build
Iron Dome in the United States. The facility builds the system and its Tamir interceptor,
which is called SkyHunter, in the U.S. At the time, the system was said to be capable
of intercepting cruise missiles, unmanned aircraft, rockets, artillery and mortars.
In the last part, we will talk about its effectiveness
Israel Defense Force claims an 85% - 90% success rate for the “Iron Dome” in intercepting incoming
projectiles. Operational in March 2011, to date the “Iron Dome” has successfully destroyed
approximately 1,500 rockets. The destruction of these incoming rockets has saved Israeli lives
offering physical protection and shielding property and other assets. In addition,
for the Israelis it serves as a psychological safeguard and comfort for the Israeli people.
Regarding the “Dome” as an asset for Israel’s National Security Strategy,
while standing as an undeniable asset, has had mixed results regarding its four major pillars
of Deterrence, Early, Active Defense and Decisive Victory as well as some unintended challenges.
For instance, regarding the perspective of its psychological protection for the Israeli people,
it is thought to also effect the Israeli public in a negative manner. Regardless of the fact that
it currently offers effective protection to the existing threats it could, in fact,
help cause a long-term security issue for Israel. In addition, while the “Dome” suffices for now,
it cannot be expected to continue this way forever. Despite the system’s effectiveness, it is
just a matter of time before the militants develop tactics or acquire the technology to overcome it.
The time needed in order to accomplish this can be predicted to be significantly reduced taking into
account the strong support from the militant’s allies and the considerable funding they receive.
We conclude that Israel’s Iron Dome is more than a missile defense system.
It’s practically an icon, a symbol of how technological
creativity can enable one rocket to knock another rocket out of the sky.
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