The Iron Dome, Israel’s well-known air defense system, is an essential component in protecting the small nation from the threats raining down on them. Originally created to take out incoming short-range projectiles like those fired by Hamas militants, it is made up of ten batteries placed throughout Israel most strategically. Each joint battery consists of three to four launchers with the ability to provide quick-response capabilities to combat aerial assaults.
To date, since the program’s start in 2007, the Iron Dome has been deeply developed. No wonder, then, that the first batteries—which entered service back in 2011—have provided a shining example of efficiency in action. Fielding an advanced radar system, the Iron Dome system can identify incoming rockets and determine if each projectile is a threat. Latency in the command-and-control operation is vital when it comes to targeting and interception.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Iron Dome is its transportability. You can install the system and be up and running within few hours. That kind of speed would allow much faster deployment in more places, at the moment they need them most. For one, the missile interceptors themselves are extremely maneuverable, maximizing their effectiveness in high-stakes, real-time combat situations.
The range and capabilities of the Iron Dome missiles go to show just how sophisticated it really is. Each cruise missile is 3m long — almost 10 feet long. It’s about 6 inches, or 15 cm, across. Yet these missiles, at launch, still only weigh around 90 kilograms (198 pounds). They are designed to contain about 11 kg of high explosive in their warheads. This potent combination enables them to effectively neutralize incoming threats within a range of 4 km to 70 km (2.5 miles to 43 miles).
Though it seems unbelievable with all of the high-tech wizardry at play, each Iron Dome missile only costs about 40,000 bucks. This pricing mirrors the enormous publicly supported investment undertaken by the Israeli government and its allies. The US has already put more than $2.9 billion into the Iron Dome program. This important donation underscores the deep strategic relationship between both countries.
Since its deployment, the Iron Dome has repeatedly proved its worth during conflicts with Hamas and others, intercepting thousands of rockets fired at Israel’s primary population centers. That high success rate has already done wonders for public confidence in Israel’s defense capabilities. It highlights a deepening and very real need for even more military technological progress.
