Iron Dome is an all-weather air defense system with mobile capabilities. It was developed jointly by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries. It is designed for mid-air interception and destruction of rocket and artillery projectiles fired from at least 4 kilometres.

The Iron Dome, making its debut in 2011, became well known for its success rate in shooting down incoming rockets launched by the Hamas insurgents from Gaza. It was reported by Israeli media that about 90% of rockets launched were prevented from reaching their targets in populated areas.

This article will further give details about the Iron Dome within the context of the IAS Exam

Specifications of the Iron Dome

The system is designed to counter short-range rockets and 155 mm artillery shells with a range of up to 70 kilometers. According to its manufacturer, Iron Dome will operate day and night, under adverse weather conditions, and can respond to multiple threads simultaneously.

Iron Dome has three central components:

• Detection & Tracking Radar: the radar system is built by Elta, an Israeli defense company and subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries, and by the IDF.
• Battle Management & Weapon Control (BMC): the control center is built for Rafael by mPrest Systems, an Israeli software company.

• An example of an interceptor missile used by Iron Dome.
  Missile Firing Unit: the unit launches the Tamir interceptor missile, equipped with electro-optic sensors and several steering fins for high maneuverability. The missile was built by Rafael. A typical Iron Dome battery has 3–4 launchers (20 missiles per launcher)

The system’s radar is referred to as EL/M-2084. It detects the rocket’s launch and tracks its trajectory. The BMC calculates the impact point according to the reported data, and uses this information to determine whether the target constitutes a threat to a designated area. Only when that threat is determined is an interceptor missile fired to destroy the incoming rocket before it reaches the predicted impact area.

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How does Iron Dome function?

The Iron Dome functions as follows:

Step 1: Enemy projectile is fired towards the target. There will be multiple rockets fired and their accuracy may not be on point.

Step 2: The radar system of the Iron Dome detects the rocket’s midair and tracks the ones which are likely to penetrate its parent airspace by analysing the trajectory of the projectiles.

Step 3: The control system of the Iron Dome intercepts the target points of the rockets in the air

Step 4: With the help of the target points analysed, the Iron Dome launches its own missiles to intercept the enemy rockets.

*Note: The Iron Dome counter-missiles ignore the enemy rockets that are to impact uninhabited areas, thus leaving it to intercept other missiles and ensuring a high interception success.

Step 5: The rockets are intercepted by the Iron Dome missile and destroyed midair.

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