The porous shield of Israel's Iron Dome

the iron dome does not fire an interceptor if the trajectory of the incoming missile is calculated to land in an unpopulated. 12% of the missiles fired from gaza should have been shot down but weren't, whereas 88% were. the other hundreds of missiles landed in open fields or places where people don't congregate.

Now, Iron Dome only intercepts the missiles which are aimed at populated areas. Therefore, of all the missles launched for Gaza which were bound to populated areas, 80-90% have been shot down. That means, 80-90% of success. Missiles which do not head for populated areas are left to fall down on the opne space. It's quite advanced tecnology. Get your facts straight.

nothing you say is of interest. Iron Dome only intercepts those rockets deemed to be heading for a protected area and ignores rockets that will impact in open areas. So far the successful interception rate is 88%.

The suggestion that Israel would be passive during an Iranian attack is an absurdity. Teharan would be leveled within 24 hours. And Iron Dome is only one level of Israel's missile defence shield. And what evidence do you have that Iran's missles are accurate over a long range? I'd be quite worried in Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia of them landing there instead.

"S Judah" asked about the accuracy of Iran's missiles. Their workhorse missile with the range to reach Israel is the Shahab-3. (They have made small numbers of about four other missiles that can reach Israel, including one with both stages solid fuel.) When first produced in 2003 it is estimated that it would be likely to hit perhaps a km from where it was aimed. In 2006 they switched to a solid-fuel second stage, adding accuracy. These missiles are relatively fast, adding accuracy. There have been many improvements, and it is now believed that they have a CEP (Circle of Estimated Precision) of 30-50 meters; as many land within that circle as land outside of it. They are either tipped with one of two models of single warheads of either about 1000 kg or a tri-conic warhead of about 750 kg. They also have cluster payloads that deliver five cluster bomb warheads, each with 280 bomblets. All of these warheads are believed to be independently manuverable and targetable.They probably have decoy technology. One other model of missile carries three independently targetable high explosive warheads. Today Iran has about 500 of these missiles, over 400 should be Shahab-3s. (The number is mostly based on recent testimony in the Knesset from IDF Military Intelligence.) Iran has also developed a cruise missile and a drone bomber that can both reach Israel, largely based on Russian Kh-55 cruise missiles that crooked Ukranian officials illegally sold to Iran (12) and China (6) in 2001, I think. Probably only have a few at this time, but it is a new mode of attack that will have to be addressed. Netanyahu and some of his allies have been spreading the idea that Iran has 35 missiles that can reach Israel. Israel's Arrows can stop 35 missiles, but only a small fraction of 500. And the Iranian missiles are not loaded with fertilizer warheads. You almost have to be hit in the forehead with a Quassam to be killed by it.

How will Iron dome intercept hunderds of rockets if fired at once? The Iron dome is only succesfull, because the number of rockets fired at once arent high. Furthermore it costs almost 50.000 dollars to intercept a projectile of 200-300 dollars. An does Israel have enough iron dome rockets to stop rockets in a eventual long term war. Lets say if a war breaks out and weeks after week hunderds of rockets are fired a day. Than Israeli stockpile of iron dome rockets will used up within a few weeks. This iron dome system is only a solution for short term conflicts.

You are asking wrong questions. The right question is who funds Hamas for those 7 meter long, 100kg / warhead tactical cruise missiles.

That figure only applies to the home-made, short-range Qassams. The larger and longer range Katyusha and Grad rockets cost thousands of dollars, and the Iranian-made Fajr-5 are more costly yet. Even the small rockets can result in property damage, injury and death. Let's consider an alternative "passive" defense - reinforcing buildings and constructing secure rooms. The cost for such work runs into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Would you say such is uncalled for because some projectiles only cost a few hundred dollars?

That figure only applies to the home-made, short-range Qassams. The larger and longer range Katyusha and Grad rockets cost thousands of dollars, and the Iranian-made Fajr-5 are more costly yet. Even the small rockets can result in property damage, injury and death. Let's consider an alternative "passive" defense - reinforcing buildings and constructing secure rooms. The cost for such work runs into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Would you say such is uncalled for because some projectiles only cost a few hundred dollars?

Iron Dome has already shown that it can defeat multiple salvos of rockets. There are many videos posted showing up to 7 rockets in a salvo destroyed in under 4 seconds. Not possible for the Palestinians to fire hundreds of rockets simultaneously- beyond their capability. As for Israel running out of interceptors- not going to happen- current inventory is several thousand (I made that figure up, but it's a good guess)

In mass producion the Rafael's Tamir missiles will NOT cost 50 K$, but some 20 K$ - 25 K-US$ per unit. The more advanced models of 122 mm (with longer, 40 km max-range) GRAD artillery-rockets cost some 3.000 USD per unit, and NOT 200-300 dollars, as you write here. Super heavy, large, long-range Iranian Fajr-5 artillery-rockets cost almost as much, as Rafael's Tamir missiles. And yes, the Iron Dome systems are designed to succesfully handle barrages of hundreds aof artillery rockets at the same time - so the Hizbullah's thugs should NOT hope for any better success, than their Hamas & Islami Jihad "brothers", "John"......

End the Occupation and Illegal Settlements...think of the savings....plenty of room to build in Sovereign Israel. No need to build on someone elses land and get missiles for your troubles.