The Iron Dome: Protecting Israel in Times of War
By Randy Pinsky
Since October 7th, Israel has been fighting a multifront war with Hamas in the South and Hezbollah in the North. As proxies of Iran, these terrorist organizations have been regularly shooting rockets and ballistic missiles at Israeli cities, with Iran engaging in an intense attack in April and October 2024.
What has protected Israel in this onslaught? Iconic Israeli ingenuity has truly taken on sci-fi proportions to develop what is undoubtedly the world’s most sophisticated mobile air defense system, which some say is nothing short of Star Wars quality. Commonly known as the Iron Dome, this is in fact but one layer in a series of highly advanced protective systems to identify, intercept and neutralize rockets. How does this life-saving device work?
A Shield of Protection
During the 2006 Lebanon War, it became increasingly clear that a more developed air defense system was urgently needed to offset the 100 rockets launched every day.
An appeal was thus sent out to do the impossible: how to down and neutralize incoming enemy attacks?
In Thou Shalt Innovate: How Israeli Ingenuity Repairs the World, author Avi Jorisch described how missile experts, engineers, controllers, analysts - anyone who could potentially contribute knowledge - came together to evaluate all options and ideas, no matter how far-fetched. Even if such a technology were possible, the individual parts were prohibitively expensive.
After endless tests and failed attempts, a viable prototype was finally close to ready. The developers reflected how the process was peppered by truly serendipitous coincidences that lead to its realization.
For instance, engineer Chanoch Levine, head of the Iron Dome Project for Rafael Advanced Defense, was aimlessly playing with his son's remote-controlled car one day. Distracted and frustrated at the continual setbacks, he suddenly realized the toy contained components that had been stumping the team for months. He marvelled, “Our system is the only missile in the world that has parts from Toys R Us.”
Will It Work?
The team worked night and day to fine-tune the anti-ballistic system. In the heat of it all, Levine recalled meeting Defense Minister Amir Perez, a formidable presence. The leader took the engineer aside and with a piercing look, muttered “Can you do it?”
Levine pulled himself up and with more confidence than he felt, responded, “Of course we can.”
Later he would confide, “I didn't believe a single word that came out of my mouth at that moment. But when the Minister of Defense asks if you can do something, the answer is always yes.”
After many false starts, Levine recalled the momentous moment of success. A test was arranged in 2009 and a mock enemy rocket was launched. The radar assessed the trajectory and the interceptor was fired. The countdown started with the entire team glued to the computer monitor. “Suddenly both missiles appeared together on the video screen and hit one another. The Iron Dome missile had knocked the Qassam out of the sky. The group erupted in joy.” This was an incident remembered by all with utmost clarity and extreme emotion.
As noted by Jorisch [1], “What began as an impossible mission, had become a viable way to protect the country.”
Protection of the Sky
Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries and Raytheon, the Iron Dome was deployed outside Be’er Sheva two years later. “From proposal to deployment, [the] Iron Dome’s entire development cycle was slightly more than four years, a remarkably short period for a new weapon system.”
Indeed, “In rocket science, we call this a miracle,” stated Yair Ramati, the former head of Israel’s Missile Defense Organization.
The Iron Dome Is But One Layer in the System
As Israel’s first line of defense, the Iron Dome is the innermost layer of a highly advanced network which all work to identify, target and intercept attacks from above. While the Iron Dome is the best known of the anti-ballistic systems, instantly recognizable for its massive and imposing structure, Israel has an exceptionally sophisticated and centrally connected defense apparatus. In April 2024, a combination of its air, sea and ground offensives neutralized almost all of the hundreds of rockets and missiles sent by Iran.
Known in Hebrew as Kippat Barzel, the Iron Dome “has become a cornerstone of the country’s security since its initial deployment in 2011.” It reacts within seconds and is manned 24 hours a day.
We Got It Covered
Other layers which work in conjunction to protect the country are David’s Sling and Arrows 2 and 3. As a unit, they intercept incoming missiles coming at varying altitudes and distances.
Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 provide the outermost protection with the longest missile distance range at 2,400km. It was created after the First Gulf War in 1991 when Iraq fired dozens of Soviet-made scud missiles into Israel. The Arrow missiles travel at nine times the speed of sound and can destroy short and medium range rockets in Earth’s upper atmosphere.
It is followed by David’s Sling as the strong middle layer which takes out longer-range rockets, aircraft and cruise missiles. The Iron Dome is lastly tasked with neutralizing the closer range ones.
A recent addition is the Thaad (Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense) anti-missile system from the US used to bolster Israel's defense against missile and drone attacks.
While frightening, the booms reassure Israelis that any attempts are intercepted and eliminated.
How Does It Work?
Each of the air defense technologies has three components: a radar system that detects and tracks incoming airborne threats; a command and control management software which assesses its trajectory; and a launcher that fires til meyaret (known as Tamir) interceptor missiles.
The entire system has a success rate of around 90% and has been critical in deflecting the majority of attacks during the most recent war.
A Challenge…
While the system is exceptionally effective, it has difficulty tracking and intercepting drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) which have caused loss of life and devastation. Rockets have crude technology and their trajectory is more predictable while drones alternatively fly lower and slower so are difficult to intercept by aircraft. In October, a drone launched from Iraq killed two soldiers in the Golan Heights and injured many more.
…and a Solution
Israeli ingenuity is already at hand however, developing high powered lasers to burn the electronics of these drones and obliterate them. Called the Iron Beam, it is projected to be a major game changer as it will be extremely effective as well as cheaper to operate than the current systems.
Magen Or or ‘Shield of Light’ is a “directed-energy weapon air defense system” designed to destroy short range rockets and artillery, to be deployed in 2025. It will work in tandem with the other systems and take out smaller projectiles and drones.
A Difficult Reality
The Iron Dome and the entire air defense system has enabled Israelis to go about their lives in spite of the conflict. While it is nothing short of miraculous, it is the need for it that is troubling. Imagine where the engineering inventiveness and knowledge could be alternatively served, with solutions for climate change, lack of access to water and cures for diseases, if Israel did not need to constantly defend itself.
Until then however, Israeli ingenuity will continually be ahead of the game, keeping the sky safe for its citizens.
[1] Jorisch was the guest speaker for the Azrieli Institute during the pandemic, on February 15, 2021, speaking about his book"
