The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict witnessed a surge of hostilities over the weekend as Palestinian militants from Gaza launched a surprise attack on Israel, which the Israeli prime minister called the deadliest offensive in 50 years.
The attack, dubbed Operation Al Aqsa Flood by Hamas, involved over 3,000 rockets, drones, and commando raids that targeted Israeli cities, military bases, and infrastructure.
In response, the skies lit up with the action of the Iron Dome, Israel’s air defense system, neutralizing a significant number of incoming threats with a reported intercept rate of 90%, according to the Israeli military.
Why Israel made the Iron Dome
The creation of the Iron Dome was spurred by the need to shield Israeli civilians from the unrelenting rain of mortars and rockets, chiefly from militants in Gaza and Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. It made its interception debut in April 2011, neutralizing a Grad rocket headed for Ashkelon from Gaza. Since then, it’s been a key player in Israel’s defense strategy, intercepting thousands of projectiles over the years.
How it works
Delving into the mechanics, the Iron Dome operates through a sophisticated radar system that detects incoming projectiles from approximately 40 miles away, calculates their trajectory, and discerns the potential threat. It’s a vigilant device that springs into action, firing a launcher containing 20 interceptor missiles to intercept any rocket deemed dangerous. Remarkably, it’s designed to conserve its ammunition, holding fire on projectiles heading toward uninhabited regions.
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How much it costs to intercept a missile
The financial facet is as hefty as the technological one, with each intercepting missile costing around $40,000 to $50,000. As of mid-2021, Israel deployed ten of these systems, each capable of guarding a vast area, ready to respond to aerial threats in any weather condition. Sort of sounds like a weapon directly out of the Star Wars franchise.
How the USA funds the Iron Dome
Originally a solo endeavor by Israeli firms Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, the Iron Dome was designed to shield against short-range rocket threats. The project took a collaborative turn in 2011 when the United States began financially supporting the initiative, significantly bolstering its development and deployment. This financial backing was further solidified with the U.S. Congress approving a total of $1.6 billion in funding from 2011 to 2021 and an additional $1 billion in 2022.
Where is the Iron Dome technology built?
The collaboration expanded in scope with the involvement of US-based Raytheon Technologies, which joined hands with Israel’s RAFAEL to form a joint venture called Raytheon RAFAEL Area Protection Systems. This venture aimed to establish a production facility for the Iron Dome weapon system in the United States, marking a significant step in the co-production of Iron Dome components. Raytheon, capitalizing on the Iron Dome’s capabilities.
Kurt’s key takeaways
The Iron Dome undeniably contributes to safeguarding Israeli lives from rocket attacks, providing a buffer for the Israeli government to strategize its response. Last July, Israel announced significant upgrades to the Iron Dome with the addition of AI to allow for more precision in targeting.
As of the time of writing, both nation-states have declared war against one another, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying, “As the Prime Minister of Israel, I tell you frankly, difficult days are still ahead of us.”
Should America have its own Iron Dome? Let us know by commenting below.
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35 comments
Absolutely!
absolutely, the best way to prevent a nuclear attack by a hostile power is to make them ineffective. however we need to bring the cost down by using lasers instead of rockets, which i thought Israel was already moving to.
The fact that Israel even needs this tells you a lot about how indiscriminately the terrorists fire into populated areas, with each missile hoping to kill innocent people. How anyone can stand up for the terrorists totally boggles the mind!