As rockets continue to rain down on Israel, Tuesday marked a day Iran’s unprecedented attackWhich fired 181 ballistic missiles towards the country. The whole nation took shelter for an hour; Fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries, thanks to Israel’s air defense system.
The system has been vital in protecting Israeli civilians and intercepting thousands of missiles aimed at population centers. However, some missiles fell near several air force bases and the Mossad headquarters, although according to the IDF Chief of Staff, they did not cause “significant damage”.
Israel’s air defense strategy extends beyond the Iron Dome. Systems such as David’s Sling and Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 provide defense against medium and long-range missiles, and these systems have also been important in the current conflict. Israel Air Force Reserve Brig. General Doron Gavish explains that the multi-layered defense structure was designed to deal with a variety of threats. “We have used David’s Sling to intercept rockets from Lebanon, and Arrow 3 to counter ballistic missiles from Iran. It’s not just Iron Dome – it’s a network of systems working together Is.”
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Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel, on October 1, 2024. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
While Iron Dome has not been used extensively against Iran, its operators have been busy keeping Israel safe since the war began on October 7 last year.
“Iron Dome has done an incredible job, but, like any defensive system, extended, high-intensity combat has taken its toll on it – it was not designed for a conflict of this length and intensity,” Hilla Haddad Chmelnik. , and aerospace engineers who played a key role in developing Iron Dome, and who acknowledge that the system is being tested in ways for which it was not originally designed.
Haddad Chmelnik, who also served as director general of Israel’s Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, emphasizes the need for continued innovation to combat emerging threats.
and with Lebanon and Israel’s increasing war with HezbollahThe need for the system is greater than ever, she says. Just last week, hundreds of rockets, missiles and UAVs were launched against Israel by Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Rockets fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza City in the early hours of October 8, 2023 are intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome defense missile system. (Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images)
While Hamas’s rocket supplies in Gaza have been largely exhausted, the situation in Lebanon is very different. “In Gaza, we have significantly reduced the number of rockets Left in the arsenal of Hamas. But in Lebanon, the numbers have not declined substantially,” she says. believe in hezbollah There are probably 140,000 rockets, and they are far more sophisticated than those used by Hamas and can penetrate much deeper into Israel.
And then there is the question of Iran, and possibility of war increased Involve direct conflict with that country. “The threat from Iran is more manageable than from Lebanon,” she says. “A large-scale missile attack from Iran, which can be detected and targeted in advance, is a complex task,” says Haddad Chmelnik. “Preparing to launch ballistic missiles up to 1,500 kilometers.” is required, and it is visible. It is very difficult to hide from satellites, and this gives us the opportunity to attack in advance, in addition to preparing to defend ourselves.”
Haddad Chmelnik emphasizes that Israel’s missile-defense systems, which were built in coordination with the US, are capable of withstanding Iranian attacks. She says, “The Iranian missile threat can be countered, and our second-strike capability is very important. Israel has the upper hand in this regard.” “That’s why Iran is cautious – it has much more to lose than to gain.”
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Iron Dome was first deployed in 2011, after years of development in response to the increasing threat of rocket attacks from Gaza. (IDF Spokesperson Unit.)
Iron Dome was first deployed in 2011, after years of development in response to the increasing threat of rocket attacks from Gaza. What sets this system apart, says Haddad Chmelnik, is its innovation and simplicity. “It’s a fantastic technology that no other country has. Iron Dome was developed with it.” America’s support., and now we’re seeing other countries buying it to defend themselves.”
Indeed, the success of Iron Dome has attracted international attention. Countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Finland have purchased Iron Dome components or batteries. Haddad Chmelnik explains, “Israel is the safest country in the world when it comes to air defense.” “Now, we’re seeing countries around the world investing in it.”
Israel Air Force Reserve Brig. General Doron Gavish, former commander of Israel’s Air Defense Corps, recalls initial skepticism surrounding the project. “Before Iron Dome, we had no real answer to these types of rockets,” he says. “People were skeptical that we could build an effective, cost-efficient interceptor. But the system has proven itself over the years. Iron Dome has intercepted thousands of rockets.”
An Israeli man works next to a house destroyed after a rocket attack fired by Hezbollah militants in Katzrin in the Golan Heights on August 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Shalit)
Each Iron Dome interceptor missile costs about $50,000, while some rockets designed to destroy it, such as those made by Hamas, may cost only a few hundred dollars. The cost of maintaining an Iron Dome battery, which requires dozens of soldiers to operate, is approximately $100 million. Currently, there are about 12 Iron Dome batteries spread across the country, each capable of protecting up to 60 square miles, providing significant coverage in strategic areas.
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Half of the Iron Dome operators are women, having agreed to extend their service to three years to accommodate the longer period of training – which is mandatory for men. “The experience these soldiers have gained under fire is invaluable. But the pressure is enormous,” said Brig. General Gavish says. “It’s not like a video game. You’re making decisions in real time about which rocket to stop. These soldiers know they’re protecting their families, their cities – sometimes even their homes. “
But current conflictWhich has fired more than 20,000 rockets from Gaza and Lebanon since October 2023, pushing the system and its operators to their limits. “When we designed Iron Dome, we never imagined it would have to operate under such constant stress,” says Haddad Chmelnik. “This system was designed for short, intense battles – not for a war lasting almost a year.”
Iran presented its first hypersonic ballistic missile in Tehran on June 6, 2023. (Sipa News/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
In recent months, some enemy rockets have gone beyond the defense zone, causing destruction in northern Israel. “No system is streamlined,” Gavish says. “There is no perfect defense. The reality is that the longer the war goes on, the greater the strain on the system.”
Meanwhile, the enemy is learning. Haddad Chmelnik says, “Every time Iron Dome successfully intercepts a rocket, our adversaries are watching, learning, and adapting.” “That’s why we’re seeing more complex threats emerging, like UAVs and drones, that are harder to stop.”
Although Iron Dome remains in effect, the future is uncertain. “The system is saving lives every day,” Brig. General Gavish says. “But as the war progresses, it becomes harder and harder to maintain the same level of defense.”
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A member of Israel’s Air Force Technical Corps stands near the Iron Dome Battery.
Despite these successes, Haddad Chmelnik points out that no defense system is infallible. “The way Iron Dome is built, it’s about more than identifying individual threats; it’s about quickly adapting as those threats evolve.” She emphasizes that while Iron Dome is playing an important role, Israel’s long-term security will depend on continued technological progress.
Despite the challenges faced in the current situation, the people operating the Iron Dome continue their mission. “Soldiers – men and women – are making complex decisions in real time, protecting cities and families,” Brig. “They are the key to the success of Iron Dome,” says General Gavish.
