To protect itself from rocket and missile fire coming from the Palestinian territories or from other States, in particular Lebanon and Iran, the State of Israel gradually developed and deployed after the first Gulf War, in 1991, an anti-aircraft device ” multilayer” called Missiles. Defense Organization (IMDO).
Designed in close collaboration with the United States, it is based on three types of interceptors with specific capabilities and ranges of action. Added to the Iron Dome, which constitutes its short-range base, are the David’s Sling and Arrow systems, responsible for the middle and upper stages respectively. It has been fully operational since the mid-2000s and is subject to constant improvements.
During the first frontal attack by the Islamic Republic of Iran, carried out on the night of April 13-14 in retaliation for the destruction, two weeks earlier, of the consular section of its embassy in Damascus (Syria), 99% of 170 drones and 120 ballistic missiles were intercepted, according to the Israeli army.
iron dome
According to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the Iron Dome is the first air defense system developed specifically for the interception of short-range rockets, such as the Qassam, Katyusha or Grad, available to Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah, as well as artillery and mortar projectiles.
Its development began in 2007 and the system has been operational since March 2011. Its first intervention occurred just a few days later. On April 7, 2011, it allowed the interception of a Grad rocket launched from the Gaza Strip towards Ashkelon, a city on the Israeli coast located a few kilometers north of the Palestinian enclave. Since then, he has been constantly improved and has allowed countless interceptions. During the Israeli operations “Pillar of Defense” and “Protective Edge”, carried out in 2012 and 2014 respectively, its success rate reached 90%, according to the Ministry of Defense.
The result of cooperation between the Israeli group Rafael and the American defense industry, its mobile batteries fire Tamir missiles 3 meters long, 15 centimeters in diameter and 90 kilos guided by radar with a range of 4 to 70 kilometers. Each battery includes a detection and tracking radar, fire control software and three launchers each equipped with twenty missiles.
The system detects the rocket as soon as it is launched and calculates its trajectory. If it threatens a populated area, fire a missile to intercept it in flight. Given the short range of your targets, the decision must be made within two minutes of firing.
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