Israel’s Iron Dome is Just One Part of Its Multi-Layered Air Defence System
Israel’s Iron Dome air defence system has intercepted thousands of rockets since its operation in 2011, providing crucial cover during times of conflict. It is one part of Israel’s multi-tiered missile defence systems, designed to intercept short-range rockets at a distance of up to 70 kilometres.
The system works by using a three-part setup: a radar detection system, a computer to calculate the incoming rocket’s trajectory, and a launcher that fires interceptors if the rocket is deemed likely to hit a built-up or strategic area. Each Iron Dome battery is made up of three main sections and is transportable on trucks, allowing for flexible deployment wherever the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) finds necessary.
Israel’s layered air defence system includes the Iron Dome, which intercepts short-range surface-to-surface rockets, David’s Sling, which targets medium and long-range missiles, and the Arrow system, which intercepts ballistic missiles traveling beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. This multi-layered approach has been effective in recent attacks, with nearly 200 ballistic missiles fired by Iran being intercepted by Israel’s air defences on Tuesday night.
The success rate of the Iron Dome is around 90 percent, according to Israeli defence firm Rafael, which helped design it. Each interceptor costs $40,000 to $50,000 to produce, and a complete system, including the radar, computer, and launchers, costs around $100 million to produce. The system has been heavily relied upon to protect military and civilian sites from frequent barrages of rockets fired from Gaza and Lebanon in the ongoing conflict with Hamas.
