Iron Dome

In News

• Recently, according to data from Israeli military diplomats, the Iron Dome air defense system has intercepted over 3,000 projectiles in the last 10 years. 

What is the Iron Dome?

• Background:
  • The genesis of the Iron Dome goes back to the 2006 Israeli-Lebanon war, when Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets into Israel. 
  • The Iron Dome was deployed in 2011. 
• Development:
  • It is developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. 
• Features:
  • It is a short-range, ground-to-air, air defence system that includes a radar and Tamir interceptor missiles that track and neutralise any rockets or missiles.
  • It is used for countering rockets, artillery & mortars (C-RAM) as well as aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. 
  • It is capable of being used in all weather conditions, including during the day and night. 

What makes it so effective?

• The Iron Dome has three main systems that work together to provide a shield over the area where it is deployed, handling multiple threats.
• It has a detection and tracking radar to spot any incoming threats, a battle management and weapon control system (BMC), and a missile firing unit.   

Other Air Defence Systems

• S-400 missile system:
  • Missile defence system developed by Russia.
  • Capable of intercepting all missiles (long, medium & short range).
  • Can intercept 5^th generation fighter aircrafts, drones, cruise & ballistic missiles.
  • Range: 300-400 kms. 
  • India has S-400 which also caters to the three threats (rockets, missiles and cruise missiles).
• Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD):
  • American anti-ballistic missile defense system.
  • Designed to shoot down short, medium & intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
  • Range: Greater than 200 km.

Source: IE