This is how the Iron Dome of Israel works 3:08
(CNN Spanish) -
For more than a decade, Israel designed a defense system called the Iron Dome (Iron Dome, in English) which has been a fundamental element for the protection of Tel Aviv and other cities in Israel, since this system works as a shield against missile attacks launched from Gaza.
During recent clashes between Israelis and Palestinians, Palestinian militants have fired more than 1,600 rockets, said Jonathan Conricus, the spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
"About 400 have fallen short within the Gaza Strip and the interception rate continues at an average of 90%," he said.
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The recent clashes between Israelis and Palestinians have quickly turned into one of the worst waves of violence between the two sides in recent years, and the Iron Dome has played a vital role in detecting and tracking missiles.
Another fundamental factor of this system is that it has a radar that allows detecting rockets at the moment they are launched from Gaza, allowing it to detect where the projectiles are going to alert the population about the possible impact that would be to come.
Below we will explain what Israel's anti-missile system is and how it works, which for several years has become an essential element of protection of its territory.
What is the Iron Dome?
The name Iron Dome evokes the image of a bubble protecting a city.
In practice, the system detects missiles that are launched in a range of 4 to 70 kilometers, and responds by firing a Tamir interceptor missile against incoming projectiles that pose a threat to the protected area.
These areas are generally strategically important sites, including populated places.
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The antimissile system has a radar, which detects an incoming missile and transmits this information to the threatened place, alerting the population to the current situation.
This alert can reach the population up to a minute in advance.
However, in situations the alert only comes seconds before impact.
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How is it composed?
The Iron Dome is made up of three elements: a detection and tracking radar, a weapon control and battle management (BMC) system, and a missile firing unit (MFU). English).
"The radar detects a rocket launch and transmits information about its trajectory to the control center, which calculates the expected point of impact," the Israeli army said.
'If this location warrants an interception, a missile is fired to intercept the rocket.
The payload of the interceptor missile explodes near the rocket, in a location that is not expected to cause injury.
Each mobile system - known as a battery - is made up of a radar to identify targets, a control system, and a portable missile launcher.
The missiles are approximately 3 meters long and 15 centimeters in diameter;
and weigh 90 kilograms, said security analysis group Jane's International Defense Review (IDR) in 2012.
The system is easy to transport, and it only takes a few hours to relocate and set it up.
In addition, it can be operated under any weather condition.
The Israeli government currently has 10 batteries, according to AFP.
However, a defense minister told CNN that Israel would need more than 13 batteries to keep all of its borders protected.
To date, the system has intercepted more than 2,000 incoming targets and has a success rate of more than 90%, according to information from defense technology development company Rafael.
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How did the
Iron Dome
?
Israel began developing the defense system in February 2007, its series of tests was completed in July 2010, and it was declared operational in 2011.
The Israel Air Force (IAF) reported in 2011 that the system had an interception rate of 70%.
The first test of the Iron Dome was during the 2012 Operation Pillar of Defense, between Israel and Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas.
Israeli officials claimed that the Iron Dome intercepted 85% of the more than 400 missiles fired from Gaza.
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According to the IAF and the military magazine
Jane's Defense Weekly
, during a conflict in May 2019 in the Gaza Strip, the Iron Dome achieved an 86% successful interception rate against rockets fired in urban areas.
Was the United States involved in its construction?
Yes. Although the initial development was solely carried out by Israel's defense technology development company Rafael, the system has been sponsored by the United States.
In May 2010, the White House approved a plan to provide $ 205 million for the Iron Dome, and in July 2012, President Barack Obama announced that the United States would provide a $ 70 million fund for the project.
"This is a program that has been critical in terms of providing security and protection for Israeli families," Obama said at the time of the system.
"It is a program that has been revised and has prevented missile attacks in Israel."
To date, the United States has provided Israel with $ 1.6 billion for Iron Dome batteries, interceptors, co-production costs and general maintenance, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
Although Israel was initially the sole owner of the Iron Dome technology, the United States asked to co-own the technology and its production in 2011, according to CRS.
By March 2014, both governments signed a co-production agreement to allow the manufacturing of the components of the Iron Dome system in the United States, at the same time that it was provided to the United States Missile Defense Agency (MDA, for full access to proprietary technology.
The Iron Dome costs $ 50 million, according to IDR;
and each missile costs no less than $ 62,000, according to Israeli officials.
With information from José Levy and Michael Martinez.
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