For ten years now, Israel has been defending itself with the highly effective Iron Dome missile system.
Following the escalation of violence between Palestinians and Israelis , thousands of videos have been posted on social media showing the effectiveness of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. In particular, a video from Tuesday night to Wednesday night shows rockets fired from the Gaza Strip in Tel Aviv.
The sirens sound, dozens of rockets burst into the air in the dark night sky, and then bright flashes are heard, while explosive noises are heard. The danger to the population, however, has been avoided for the time being. On social media, the “iron dome” is considered the life insurance of Israelis.
How does the “Iron Dome” missile defense system work?
It consists of a radar unit and a control center that can detect nearby missiles, such as missiles after launch, and calculate their orbit and target. And all this in seconds. And so it must be, because depending on the distance from the Gaza Strip , the Israelis have only 15 to 90 seconds to escape an approaching rocket and protect themselves. The third element is rocket launchers.
There are three to four missiles per system, each with a capacity for 20 rockets. A defensive missile is fired only when it is clear that the missile is aimed at a residential area. The interceptor missile does not hit the other projectile directly, but explodes near it, destroying it. However, falling debris can cause injuries and property damage. The systems are mobile and can be relocated. Ten of them are currently used in Israel.
According to the manufacturer, the Israeli state defense company Rafael Defense Systems, a single battery can protect a medium-sized city. The system can monitor missiles with a range of up to 70 km. According to experts, 13 systems would be necessary to protect the entire country. Israel uses other systems to protect itself. The “Iron Dome” is aimed at short-range missiles.
How successful is the system?
The manufacturer declares a success rate of 90 percent. The head of the Israeli missile defense organization, Moshe Patel, told the AFP news agency that the “iron dome” has intercepted more than 2,400 rockets in the last ten years. The arms company Rafael talks about many thousands of successful launches. “Any missile that was intercepted would hit a residential area, possibly causing serious damage and casualties,” the Israeli Security Forces website said.
According to the Israeli army, more than 2,000 rockets were fired at Israel in this latest escalation, 200 of which allegedly landed in the Gaza Strip. The radical Islamic Hamas seems to want to try the “Iron Dome” or even push it to its limits by launching rockets quickly and successively. According to media reports, each deterrent costs about 66,000 euros. This is why only rockets that would hit a residential area should be neutralized. The United States financially supported the development of the system. Meanwhile, the United States itself has bought two of Israel’s defense systems.
Source: Deutsche Welle
