IRON DOME
- May 13, 2021
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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IRON DOME
Subject : Defence / IR
Context: Videos on social media showed rockets fired from Gaza being intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome air defence system. It appeared that the rockets were hitting an invisible shield.
Concept :
- In 2006, during the Israeli-Lebanon war, Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets in to Israel.
- Following this, Israel announced that the Rafael Advance System run by the Government of Israel will develop an air defence system to protect its people and cities. Thus Iron Dome was developed by Israel.
About Iron Dome
- It was deployed in 2011.
- According to Rafael Advance Systems, the Iron Dome has so far made more than two thousand interceptions. Its success rate is more than 90%.
- It is capable of protecting forward operating bases, urban areas, deployed and manoeuvring forces.
- It shall be used in all weather conditions. Also, it can be operated during the day and at night.
- It is a short-range ground air-to-air defence system.
- It is used to counter rockets, mortars, aircraft, helicopters, mortars artillery and unmanned vehicles.
Working of Iron Dome
- When the interceptor sensor of the iron dome senses an incoming rocket, it detonates its own rocket and sends out fragments. If the timing is right, then the fragments of the detonated rocket will hit the rocket warhead.
- However, the interceptor approaches the rocket is critical. It intercepts missiles in all directions. That is, Front Approach, Rear Approach and Side Approach.
- It has three main systems. All the three systems act together to provide a shied over a defined area. The three systems are as follows:
Detection and Tracking radar to spot incoming threats
Battle Management and Weapon Control System
Missile Firing Unit
- It establishes a working relationship between interceptor missile and radar.