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.
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
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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?
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