Iron Dome

Iron Dome
Iron Dome launches interceptor, 2021
TypeCounter rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) and short range air defence system[1]
Place of originIsrael
Service history
In service2011–present
Used byIsrael Defense Forces
Wars
Production history
Designer
Designed2005
Manufacturer
Unit cost$50 million per battery[2]
$100,000–150,000 per interception[3]
Produced2011–present
No. built10 batteries deployed[4] (planned deployment is 15)[5][6][needs update]
Specifications
Mass90 kg (200 lb)[7]
Length3 m (9 ft 10 in)[7]
Diameter160 mm (6.3 in)[7]
Detonation
mechanism
Proximity fuze[8]
Maximum speed Mach 2.2
Launch
platform
Three/four launchers, each carrying 20 interceptors.
Short video about Iron Dome from the Israeli News Company
The EL/M-2084 active electronically scanned array scaled down derivative radar of the Iron Dome
US Ambassador Dan Shapiro visits the Battle Management & Control (BMC) unit of the Iron Dome in 2011

Iron Dome (Hebrew: כִּפַּת בַּרְזֶל, romanized: Kippat Barzel) is an Israeli mobile all-weather air defense system,[8] developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries.[7] The system is designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of 4 to 70 kilometres (2–43 mi) away and whose trajectory would take them to an Israeli populated area.[9][10] From 2011 to 2021, the United States contributed a total of US$1.6 billion to the Iron Dome defense system,[11] with another US$1 billion approved by the US Congress in 2022.[12][needs update]

Iron Dome was declared operational and initially deployed on 27 March 2011 near Beersheba.[13] On 7 April 2011, the system successfully intercepted a rocket launched from Gaza for the first time.[14] On 10 March 2012, The Jerusalem Post reported that the system shot down 90% of rockets launched from Gaza that would have landed in populated areas.[10] In late 2012, Israel said that it hoped to increase the range of Iron Dome's interceptions, from a maximum of 70 to 250 kilometres (43–155 mi) and make it more versatile so that it could intercept rockets coming from two directions simultaneously.[15]

In November 2012, official statements indicated that it had intercepted over 400 rockets.[16][17] By late October 2014, the Iron Dome systems had intercepted over 1,200 rockets.[18] In addition to their land-based deployment, it was reported in 2017 that Iron Dome batteries would in future be deployed at sea on Sa'ar 6-class corvettes, to protect off-shore gas platforms in conjunction with Israel's Barak 8 missile system.[19]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference brochure was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Vick, Karl (19 March 2013). "The secret of the wonder weapon that Israel will show off to Obama". Time..
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference episkopos was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Lappin, Yaakov (15 July 2014). "Tenth Iron Dome battery deployed to protect Israel from rockets". The Jerusalem Post.
  5. ^ "Air Defense: U.S. Pays For More Iron Dome", Strategy page, retrieved 11 July 2014.
  6. ^ Lazareva, Inna (10 July 2014). "The Iron Dome: what is it and how does it work?". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d Ben-David, Alon (18 March 2008). "Iron Dome advances to meet Qassam threat". Jane's. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Iron Dome Air Defense Missile System, Israel". Army technology. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  9. ^ Sharp, Jeremy M. (16 September 2010). "U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  10. ^ a b Katz, Yaakov (10 March 2012). "Iron Dome ups its interception rate to over 90%". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  11. ^ "Israel-Gaza: How much money does Israel get from the US?". BBC News. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  12. ^ Magid, Jacob; staff, T. O. I.; JTA. "US House approves $1 billion for Israel's Iron Dome after months-long delay". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  13. ^ "Israel deploys 'Iron Dome' rocket shield". Al Jazeera English. 27 March 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference firstInterceptAshkelon was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Williams, Dan (16 November 2012). "Israel's Barak seeks three more Iron Dome rocket interceptors". Reuters.
  16. ^ Livnat, Yael (18 November 2012). "Tweet" (Twitter). IDF Spokesperson's Unit. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  17. ^ Livnat, Yeal (5 April 2012). שנה ליירוט הראשון של כיפת ברזל: "ההצלחה – בזכות הלוחמים" [One year to first interception of Iron Dome: "The success – because of the fighters"] (in Hebrew). IDF Spokesperson's Unit. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  18. ^ Israeli Firm Adapts Iron Dome for Intercepts at Sea – Defensenews.com, 27 October 2014
  19. ^ Report: Hezbollah Threats Prompt Israel to Add Extra Iron Fone Systems on Warships Jerusalem Post, 28 March 2017