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Iron Dome

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Palestinian rocket attacks
on Israel
A rocket fired from a civilian area in Gaza towards civilian areas in Southern Israel
A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip
into Israel, 2008
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, and is expected to be deployed by November 2010. It is designed to intercept very short-range threats up to 40 kilometers in all-weather situations.[1]

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[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

In February 2007, Defense Minister Amir Peretz selected Iron Dome as Israel's defensive solution to this short-range rocket threat.[5] Since then, the $210 million system has been jointly developed with the IDF.[6]

Specifications

File:Iron dome.jpg
Illustration of "Tamir", the interceptor missile of "Iron Dome" system
File:Iron dome launcher.jpg
"Iron Dome" launcher

The system is designed to counter short-range rockets and 155mm artillery shells with a range of up to 70 kilometers. According to its manufacturer, Iron Dome will be operational both day and night, under adverse weather conditions, and will be capable of responding to multiple threats simultaneously.[7]

Iron Dome has three central components:[6][7]

  • Detection & Tracking Radar: the radar system is built by Elta, an Israeli defense company
  • Battle Management & Weapon Control (BMC): the control center is built by mPrest Systems, an Israeli software company, for Rafael
  • 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.[6]

Testing

  • July 2008: the Tamir interceptor missile underwent successful testing.[8]
  • March 2009: Israel successfully tested the missile defense system, though without yet actually intercepting an actual projectile.[9]
  • July 2009: the system successfully intercepted a number of rockets mimicking Qassam and short-range Katyusha rockets in a Defense Ministry test.[10]
  • 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.[11]
File:Iron Dome Vs Grad.JPG
"Iron Dome" system intercepting 'Grad' rocket (January 2010 testings)
  • 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.[12]
  • July 2010: The system successfully intercepted multiple rocket barrages mimicking Qassams and Katyushas. During the test, Iron Dome successfully determined which incoming rockets were threats and which were headed toward open fields. The system did not fire at the missiles which did not present a threat.[13]

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.[14] 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.[15]

Funding

In May 2010, the White House announced that U.S. President Barack Obama would seek $205 million from U.S. Congress to spur the production and deployment of Iron Dome. White House spokesman Tommy Vietor stated, "The president recognizes the threat missiles and rockets fired by Hamas and Hezbollah pose to Israelis, and has therefore decided to seek funding from Congress to support the production of Israel's short range rocket defense system called Iron Dome." This would be the first direct U.S. investment in the project.[16] Such financial assistance could expedite the completion of the defensive system, which has long been delayed by budgetary shortfalls.[17]

A few days later, on May 20, 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the funding in a 410-4 vote.[18] The bill, the United States-Israel Missile Defense Cooperation and Support Act (H.R. 5327), was sponsored by Representative Glenn C. Nye of Virgina.[19]

Deployment

The Iron Dome system is expected to be operational by November 2010, and will be initially deployed at air force bases in southern Israel. It will be set up in other areas, like in the town of Sderot, during significant escalations along the Gaza border.[20]

According to the Jerusalem Post, the Israeli Ministry of Defense "is in talks with a number of European countries about the possible sale of the Iron Dome short-range missile defense system" in order to protect NATO forces deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq.[21]

On July 19, 2010 Israel’s Defense Ministry announced that the system was ready for operational deployment in November. The system would be initially placed at Sderot, near the Gaza Strip.[22]

Criticism

Iron Dome has been criticized for its prohibitive cost. The estimated cost of the Tamir intercept missile is $35,000–$50,000,[6] whereas a crudely manufactured Qassam rocket does not cost more than a few hundred dollars.[23] 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.[24]

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.[25]

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.[25][26]

More recently, Tel Aviv University professor and noted military analyst Reuven Pedatzur believes that Iron Dome "is all a scam ... The flight-time of a Kassam rocket to Sderot is 14 seconds, while the time the Iron Dome needs to identify a target and fire is something like 15 seconds. This means it cannot defend against anything fired from fewer than five kilometers; but it probably couldn't defend against anything fired from 15 km (9 mi)., either." Pedatzur concludes that the massive disparity in the cost of the Iron Dome missiles ($100,000) and the typical Kassam rocket ($5) (his cost estimates) means that the Iron Dome "issue has no logic to it whatsoever."[27]

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33222.pdf
  2. ^ "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)
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Summary of rocket fire and mortar shelling in 2008" (PDF). Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. 1 January 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  5. ^ "Defense Minister selects Rafael anti-missile defense system". Haaretz. 4 February 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  6. ^ a b c d "Israel successfully tests "Iron Dome" rocket & artillery shell defence system". defpro.com. 27 March 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  7. ^ a b ""Iron Dome: Defense System Against Short Range Artillery Rockets"" (PDF). Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
  8. ^ "Israeli arms company successfully tests Iron Dome anti-Qassam missile". Haaretz. 7 July 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  9. ^ "Israel successfully tests anti-rocket system". The Guardian. 27 March 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  10. ^ "Iron Dome system successful in tests". The Jerusalem Post. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  11. ^ "IDF moves one step closer to getting Iron Dome". The Jerusalem Post. 23 August 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  12. ^ "Israel to deploy Gaza rocket interceptor by June". The Jerusalem Post. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  13. ^ Katz, Yaakov, "Iron Dome Successfully Intercepts Kassam, Katyusha Barrages", Jerusalem Post, July 15, 2010, p. 2.
  14. ^ Sarusi, Neta (August 21, 2009). "Boulevards (Sderot) of Defense". Bamahane (3001): p. 12. {{cite journal}}: |page= has extra text (help) Template:He icon
  15. ^ Sarusi, Neta (October 16, 2009). ""The Marksmen" Don an Iron Dome". Bamahane (3008): p. 18. {{cite journal}}: |page= has extra text (help) Template:He icon
  16. ^ Adam Entous and Caren Bohan (13 May 2010). "Obama seeks $205 million for Israel rocket shield". Reuters.
  17. ^ Amos Harel (13 May 2010). "Iron Dome defense system gets new backer: Barack Obama". Haaretz.
  18. ^ JPost.com staff and Hilary Leila Krieger (21 May 2010). "US approves $205m. for Iron Dome". The Jerusalem Post.
  19. ^ "United States-Israel Missile Defense Cooperation and Support Act". Library of Congress. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  20. ^ Harel, Amos (3 February 2010). "IDF: No plans to deploy anti-missile system in Sderot". Haaretz. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  21. ^ http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=170605
  22. ^ Associated Press, "Israel: Anti-Rocket System Is Ready For Deployment", New York Times, July 20, 2010.
  23. ^ "What are Qassam Rockets?". Jewish Policy Center. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
  24. ^ "Iron Dome rocket defense system will be operational by 2010". Haaretz. 10 April 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
  25. ^ a b "Israel to offer Iron Dome system to US". The Jerusalem Post. 13 March 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
  26. ^ "Iron Dome system found to be helpless against Qassams". Haaretz. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
  27. ^ "Iron Dome does not answer threats". Jerusalem Post. 9 May 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
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