Iron Dome
| Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel |
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| By year (list) |
| Groups responsible |
| Rocket types |
| Cities affected |
| Regional Council areas affected |
| Settlements affected (evacuated) |
| Defense and response |
| See also |
Iron Dome (Hebrew: כיפת ברזל) is a mobile air defense system in development by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells. The system is being created as a defensive countermeasure to the rocket threat against Israel's civilian population on its northern and southern border.
Background
During the 2006 Second Lebanon War, approximately 4,000 Hezbollah-fired rockets (the great majority of which were short-range Katyusha rockets) landed in northern Israel, including on Haifa, the country's third largest city. The massive rocket barrage killed 44 Israeli civilians[1] and caused some 250,000 Israeli citizens to evacuate and relocate to other parts of Israel while an estimated 1,000,000 Israelis were confined in or near shelters during the conflict.[2]
To the south, more than 4,000 rockets and 4,000 mortars were fired into Israel from Gaza between 2000 and 2008, principally by Hamas (see rocket and mortar attacks on southern Israel). The overwhelming majority of rockets fired were Qassams but Hamas has expanded its range through the introduction of 122-mm grad launchers smuggled into the Gaza Strip. Nearly 1,000,000 Israelis living in the south are within rocket range, posing a serious security threat to the country and its citizens.[3]
In February 2007, Defense Minister Amir Peretz selected Iron Dome as Israel's defensive solution to this short-range rocket threat.[4] Since then, the $210 million system has been jointly developed with the IDF.[5]
Specifications
The system is designed to counter short-range rockets and 155mm artillery shells with a range of up to 70 kilometers. Iron Dome will be operational both day and night, under adverse weather conditions, and is capable of responding to multiple threats simultaneously.[6]
Iron Dome has three central components:[5][6]
- Detection & Tracking Radar: the radar system is built by Elta, an Israeli defense company
- Battle Management & Weapon Control (BMC): the control center
- Missile Firing Unit: the unit launches the Tamir interceptor missile, equipped with electro-optic sensors and several steering fins for high maneuverability
The system's radar identifies the rocket launch, calculates its trajectory, transfers this information to the control center, which then uses this information to determine the projected impact location. If the projectile constitutes a threat, then an interceptor missile is fired to detonate the rocket far from the impact area.[5]
Criticism
Iron Dome has been criticized for its prohibitive cost. The estimated cost of the Tamir intercept missile is $35,000–$50,000,[5] whereas a crudely manufactured Qassam rocket does not cost more than a few hundred dollars.[7] Rafael has responded that the cost issue is exaggerated since Iron Dome's radar will determine which rockets may hit a populated area and intercept only those rockets that constitute a threat.[8]
Critics have also maintained that Iron Dome is ineffective in countering the Qassam threat given the short-distance and flight time between the heavily targeted southern city of Sderot and the rocket launching pads in the Gaza Strip. Other anti-rocket systems are argued to be more effective, namely the Nautilus laser defense system. From 1995 to 2005, the United States and Israel jointly developed Nautilus but scrapped the system after concluding it was not feasible. However, American defense company Northrop Grumman has proposed to develop a more advanced prototype of Nautilus, Skyguard.[9]
Skyguard would use laser beams to intercept rockets, with the discharging of each beam costing an estimated $1,000–$2,000. With an investment of $180 million, Northrop Grumman claims it could possibly deploy the system within 18 months. Israeli defense officials have rejected the proposal, citing the extended timeline and additional costs. Officials also insist that with recent improvements to Iron Dome, the system is fully capable of intercepting Qassams.[9][10]
Testing
- July 2008: the Tamir interceptor missile underwent successful testing.[11]
- March 2009: Israel successfully tested the missile defense system, though without yet actually intercepting an actual projectile.[12]
- July 2009: the system successfully intercepted a number of rockets mimicking Qassam and short-range Katyusha rockets in a Defense Ministry test.[13]
- August 2009: the IDF completed the establishment of a new battalion that will operate the Iron Dome system. The battalion is a part of the Israel Air Force's Air Defense Division. The system will first be deployed along the Gaza border and then along the border with Lebanon. The system is slated to become operational in mid-2010.[14]
- January 2010: Iron Dome successfully intercepted multiple rocket barrages mimicking Qassams and Katyushas. Defense Ministry Director-General Pinhas Buchris stated that the system would ultimately "transform" security for the residents of southern and northern Israel.[15]
During the first stage of the Iron Dome's operational duty, the Israeli Air Force will include a large number of soldiers from Sderot, citing high motivation among the city's pre-army youth to be part of the project.[16] The 947th "Marksmen" Stinger Battalion of the Israeli Air Defense Network was chosen as the first unit to become familiar with and operate the Iron Dome.[17]
See also
External links
References
- ^ "Israel-Hizbullah conflict: Victims of rocket attacks and IDF casualties". Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Rubin, Uzi (June 2007). "The Rocket Campaign against Israel during the 2006 Lebanon War" (PDF). The Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
- ^ "Summary of rocket fire and mortar shelling in 2008" (PDF). Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. 1 January 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- ^ "Defense Minister selects Rafael anti-missile defense system". Haaretz. 4 February 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d "Israel successfully tests "Iron Dome" rocket & artillery shell defence system". defpro.com. 27 March 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
- ^ a b ""Iron Dome: Defense System Against Short Range Artillery Rockets"" (PDF). RAFAEL. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
- ^ "What are Qassam Rockets?". Jewish Policy Center. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ "Iron Dome rocket defense system will be operational by 2010". Haaretz. 10 April 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ a b "Israel to offer Iron Dome system to US". The Jerusalem Post. 13 March 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ "Iron Dome system found to be helpless against Qassams". Haaretz. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ "Israeli arms company successfully tests Iron Dome anti-Qassam missile". Haaretz. 7 July 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
- ^ "Israel successfully tests anti-rocket system". The Guardian. 27 March 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
- ^ "Iron Dome system successful in tests". The Jerusalem Post. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
- ^ "IDF moves one step closer to getting Iron Dome". The Jerusalem Post. 23 August 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
- ^ "Israel to deploy Gaza rocket interceptor by June". The Jerusalem Post. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ^ Sarusi, Neta (August 21, 2009). "Boulevards (Sderot) of Defense". Bamahane (Issue 3001): p. 12.
{{cite journal}}:|issue=has extra text (help);|page=has extra text (help) Template:He icon - ^ Sarusi, Neta (October 16, 2009). ""The Marksmen" Don an Iron Dome". Bamahane (Issue 3008): p. 18.
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