During Israel’s Operation Protective Edge this past summer, the Iron Dome defense system was responsible for saving countless lives, homes, and infrastructure throughout the Holy Land. Thanks to this missile defense system, in 2014 alone, over 1,000 missiles aimed for Israel were intercepted, with a 90% success rate.
During Israel’s Operation Protective Edge this past summer, the Iron Dome defense system was responsible for saving countless lives, homes, and infrastructure throughout the Holy Land. Thanks to this missile defense system, in 2014 alone, over 1,000 missiles aimed for Israel were intercepted, with a 90% success rate.While it is simple to understand the importance of having such a defense system in Israel, the technology behind the Iron Dome is not as simple to understand. The Iron Dome’s development began in 2005 with joint funding from the U.S. and Israel, and it was first ready for use in 2011—but it continues to be perfected until this day.
The technology was developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, an Israeli company, which, according to their website, “develops and manufactures advanced defense systems for the Israeli Defense Forces … as well as for foreign customers around the world. The company offers its customers a diversified array of innovative solutions at the leading edge of global technology, from underwater systems through naval, ground, and air superiority systems to space systems.” The Iron Dome is one of the company’s most notable developments.
Rafael is also in the midst of developing David’s Sling, a new defense system that will be able to intercept medium to long-range rockets and cruise missiles, fired from a range of over 186 miles. David’s Sling is planned to be deployed in 2018.
The Iron Dome protects highly populated areas from short-range rockets, missiles, and mortars fired from a maximum range of 43 miles away, within seconds. To fully appreciate this advanced technology, think of it this way—while going at an average speed of 65 miles an hour, it takes at least 39 minutes to drive 43 miles on a highway. In a few seconds, the Iron Dome system is able to detect the incoming rocket, calculate where it is projected to land, determine if this area is highly populated, and fire.
The system operates day and night and in all weather. It can also respond to multiple rockets being fired simultaneously. It has three major components, each accomplishing a specific task. The detection and tracking radar is a Multi-Mission Radar (MMR) that does just what it says—detects and tracks the trajectory of incoming rockets. The battle Management and Weapon Control unit (BMC) is the control center that calculates the impact point of the incoming rocket based on incoming information from the radar, also taking into account wind speed and direction. When the threat is determined, the Missile Firing Unit launches Tamir interceptor missiles to intercept the rocket before it hits ground. These missiles are specially equipped with sensors and steering fins for high accuracy and maneuverability. Tamir is an acronym for Til Meyaret, Hebrew for “interceptor missile.”
There are many of these setups, or as they are called, “batteries,” scattered throughout Israel. Currently, there are ten in total, but by 2015, the plan is that there will be fifteen batteries to protect a larger range of cities.
One of the Dome’s biggest feats is that it provides “selective defense.” It provides powerful defense without intercepting every rocket being fired at Israel. This is thanks to the Iron Dome’s ability to determine where a rocket is projected to land, limiting the amount of unnecessary interceptor launches, which saves millions of dollars. It costs about $95,000 each time the interceptor is launched, so one can imagine how the tab adds up after a couple of rockets are intercepted. The job of the soldiers stationed by the Iron rockets projected to land in an unpopulated area, such as an open field or the sea. These soldiers only have a matter of seconds after the system assigns a destination to decide whether to cancel the interception.
While it may sound like all of the advanced machinery is built of really expensive materials, a leading developer of the Dome states, “Budget constraints force scientists to think hard…there are parts in the system forty times cheaper than parts we buy normally. I can even give you a scoop—it contains the world’s only missile components from Toys R’ Us.” This developer brought his son’s toy car to work one day. The scientists and developers were passing the car around in the office and found a component of the car that would be suitable for the Dome. Now that is innovation.
To this day, the Iron Dome continues to give peace of mind to countless Israelis, who prior to 2011, used to live in fear of having their city struck by a rocket. This peace of mind also extends to Americans, where we live knowing that for the most part, our Israeli allies are safe from rocket fire.