Iron Dome makes world history intercepting nine Gaza rockets
The anti-missile system's success has surprised even the air defense troops who have been training to operate the device.
By Anshel PfefferThe success of the Iron Dome missile defense system so far - nine interceptions including the system's first one on Thursday night - has surprised even the air defense troops who have been training to operate the device for several months. Two batteries have been deployed thus far, one north of Be'er Sheva two weeks ago and one near Ashkelon last week.
While most of the media attention has been given to the visible interceptions made over Gaza, the system actually clicks into action automatically when any projectile is launched from Gaza toward Israel. The commanders of the Iron Dome batteries were therefore faced with making dozens of real-time decisions on whether or not to fire an intercepting missile.
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An IDF soldier walking next to a launcher, part of the Iron Dome rocket shield system, near Ashkelon earlier this week. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
In the future, many of these decision will be made by the system's computers, but because the Iron Dome is currently in "experimental" mode, most of the decisions must be made by the operators themselves.
In the future, once the defense system's capabilities are better known, rockets heading toward open spaces in unpopulated areas will not necessarily be intercepted.
Israel Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Ido Nechushtan visited the Iron Dome battery in Ashkelon over the weekend, saying afterward that "we have started on the right foot with some successful interceptions. But this is only the beginning, and things must be kept in perspective." Nevertheless, he said the system has made "world history."
Hundreds of Ashkelon and Be'er Sheva residents arrived at the Iron Dome batteries over the weekend to express their gratitude to the troops.
Although in the future the batteries will be moved to other areas in the south and north of the country, they are currently expected to stay where they are until the situation on the southern front calms down. Their deployment in the south was spurred by the government amid ongoing political pressure, especially from regional council leaders in the south.
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iron dome is a testament to israels brains and strenght. hamas' indescriminate rocketting helps strenghten israeli moral, while Gaza itself is in chaos, like most of the arab countries, the real people are seek of the medeival despotism that marks every arab regime. time for the Arab masses to put down their dictators and join the 21st century.
Over 100 missiles were shot to Israel in the weekend. It is a miracle that children left the bus a few minutes before. Stupid people, blinded by their hate toward Israeld, think that because luck has been so far with us the shooting of hundreds of missiles that can kill and maim is "symbolic"
iron dome, cast lead, will all this metal make Israel a safe place?
The answer is that it makes Israel safer. Cast lead restored Israel detterence and we had a number of years of relative quiet, that's pretty nice if you happen to live in one of the towns near the border with Gaza. Iron dome also makes Israel safer, I suspect that's why it's pissing off so many of the Israel haters.
iron dome has become Israel's golden Calf, peace will bring security not all this hardware. Enjoy your safer life with iron dome, walls of Jericho, bunkers, gasmasks and uzi under your bed.
As I have said in earlier talkbacks, the real value of Iron Dome lies in its ability to detect large numbers of launches and discriminate amongst them as to which will land in populated area and which will land in the countryside harmlessly (more or less). Now that IDF has acknowledged those attributes of Iron Dome, it is time to consider the other points I have made. Namely, that ID calculates the trajectory of the incoming rockets and can determine the launch point as well as the impact point virtually exactly. That means the rocket launchers canbe targeted within seconds of the launch and their destruction is virtually assured. Hamas obviously recognizes that now and is suing for peace rather than decimating its rocket launch teams and sending them to Allah to collect their 72 virgins as martyrs. Launching rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip is now akin to a suicide mission.
Lost among your self-congratulations is the fact that Hamas also made a huge breakthrough in the past few days. Despite lack of support from the political wing, Hamas's military wing persisted with the development of its new weapon, the "Izzadin Kassin Crib Killer." It had been apparent that actions like at Itamar had killed an insufficeint number of Jewish babies at one time. Something was needed to increase the numbers. The new "Crib Killer" was able to penetrate Zionist defenses and home in on a yellow school bus, just as designed. While still experimental, the hope is that more "Crib Killers" will soon be manufactured and available for full operational deployment. Firing the baby boomers is expensive, but future funding is anticipated via Iran and supporters of the hungry and beleagured people fo Gaza. Local residents gathered recently to marvel at the latest Hamas technology and to give thanks. Shalom!
If Iron Dome prevents a Hamas missile from hitting a schoolhouse filled with young children, then it will also prevent an appropriate Israeli retaliation .. thereby saving Palestinian lives. Why are the Israel Haters so upset by this?
Now, instead of the zeros of people the Kassams have killed, they'll kill no one at all. Indeed, absent any CHANCE of a hit, Israel will have that much less of a pretext for her beloved fits of massive retaliation. Then what? The kassams were symbolic to begin with. There'll be other symbols.
Collin's disappointed that more Israelis aren't killed by Kassams. Well here's a few points as to why. Every home built in Israel since the '70s has either a bomb shelter (older homes) or a reinforced secure room complete with the ability to seal it off in case of gas attacks. Similarly we've made massive investments in reinforcing schools, kindergardens, etc... to ensure that if a kassam lands it'll cause damage but no one will die. Now if we were like Hamas, we'd HOPE that the kassams kill more Israelis 'cause we'd be able to use that to gain the sympathy of simple minded people who think that right and wrong is merely a function of how many people die. Alas, we Jews celebrate life (all life, Pals included) so we do try to defend our civilians and don't use them as human shields like Hamas.
I think it is unaffordable. It would be better to go for a non-military solution for the conflict based on justice and co-existence.
Do you realize the financial potential of this type of system? It is one of a kind and will be for some time. It could, potentially, eliminate the use of ballistic missiles as first strike weapons. Throwing stones would, probably, be more affective..
And I would like to do it very much, but in the mean time unfortunately I will have to make money the hard way, i.e. work. Similarly, "it would be better to go for a non-military solution for the conflict based on justice and co-existence" but since Hamas openly says their goal is the destruction of Israel and not co-existence, we will have to defend ourselves the hard way. As for the cost of the system, it costs Hamas a qasam launching crew every few launches. Therefore Israel can sustain this setup for much longer than Hamas.
Iron Dome is great at protecting civilians and important military installations,while Israel launches succesful counterattack smashing Hamas abilities to fire rockets The latter hasn't happened,Iron Dome is soft pillow on which Barak rests his ineptitude as the DM.
Well, have a drink and kick the puppy when no one's looking. You'll get by.
Next time don't waist money of american taxpayers.Try to catch the rockets by hands.And may be you'll manage to catch 10 rockets....from 100.Perfect result!
Thumbs up. But lets try peace 1st, iron dome 2nd
hamas has thousands of rockets does isreal have so mant to intercept ?
we've got more to intercept with plenty left over to hit hamas military targets with. how much more of the international communities money do you have to waste on rockets when it should be going towards building infastructure and improving the life of the average gazan?
This is the greatest news of the current disgraceful attack on Israel. The Iron Dome may make Israel virtually unassailable in the future. That will certainly give Israel the upper hand…it will no longer enter a war of aggression but only at a time of its choosing if at all. Excellent news!
if Iron Dome prevents a rocket from hitting a schoolhouse filled with young kids, then it will have also prevented an Israeli retaliation which would cost many Palestinian lives. Why are the Israel Haters so against this?
Experience shows that either in South Lebanon or the Gaza Strip, rockets nd missile lost their effectiveness, while actions such as the killing in Itamar or depositing bombs at bus stops, in supermarkets, etc. are most effective. No Jew must feel safe at any place in the Middle East, Israelis should be afraid of going to the supermarket, to work, to school. And in that, Israeli Arabs or even left wing Jews may help a lot.
Annihilation of Israel did not work ,let's annihilate chicken coops.
I don't understand why Israel haters are so nervous about the success of Iron Dome. If the system works and people feel safer because of it, There will be less pressure on the Israeli government to respond and civilians on both sides won't get hurt. Isn't that better for everyone?
Iron Dome, Vulcan Phalanx, David's Sling, Trophy, Arrow II/III, Patriot PAC-3, THAAD, SM-3... These active defense systems will be a great asset. But they're no substitute for a strong offensive deterrent.
How dare they deploy something that might stop babies being blown up? Durson and her mates must be pulling their hair out. Perhaps Natallie the US fund Israeli weapons because they know they will be tested in actual battle conditions? You think? They do not have to test them in the destert, they know Hamas will test them for free. LOL
this weapon,is like an angel,protecting the land of israel.
The real question is this. We know that America paid for Iron Dome, the research, the materials, and the ammunition. If the militant rockets manage to destroy any Israeli targets, as they recently did with the chicken coop, will America be liable for damages? Somehow I think I already know the answer and I don't like it.
The US approved $205 million for Iron Dome. However, all research, materials and ammunition were provided by Rafael Advanced Defensive Systems and the IDF. I'm trying to correct you even though I know actual facts have very little bearing on you and those who share your worldview.
Israel funded the research and development. The US kicked in an additional 200M so Israel could buy more deployments. This things are easily checked. Why lie
America only help us with financial help, we put all the tecnology, and the brains, and our scientist are the best in the world, and if the system fail, US wo'nt have to pay for it.
You can target chicken coops again,Natallie.
America paid for Nautilus, a competing system. Iron Dome is purely Rafael. It is recommended to gather some background before embarrassing yourself publicly: A quick primer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Dome
I hear that Israel is reading a press release stating: 'When you've got dead chickens, make chicken soup'.
Iron Dome was 100% self started by Israel, Israel materials, and Israel expertise. America kicked in additional late stage funding.
Unlike the Arrow, which is a joint US-Israeli development project, Iron Dome is an Israeli project with some - not all - of the funding coming from the US. But no doubt, US military analysts will be carefully reviewing the system's operational results. And no, the US is not "liable for damages". But they won't be the only ones. A number of countries have expressed real interest in this system. Singapore (among others) has expressed great interest in it - enough to have provided some of the development funding.
1. The system protects only few vital area. To totally protect the south, you need more than 10 system and only 2 are deployed. The system do not protect open areas outside the cities. 2. US sponsored the program but don't own it. US has no liability, so cool down.
I think you should do more research on the development of the iron dome project. The US only helped with funding in 2010. This is a great achievement in military DEFENSE. This technology is shared with the US and will one day protect US cities, military bases and other US interests globally. Sounds like a good investment to me.
The US has a system that works and is battle proven since 2004. Why would the US throw money away on a white elephant that won't create even a single American job?
The chicken soup would not be kosher. Maybe we should send TGE chicken soup to Gaza.
In the year before Iron Dome was deployed, the militant rockets caused no casualties and slight damage to one house. In the few days since Iron Dome was deployed, the militant rockets have already destroyed a chicken coop. It may be too early to hang a star on iron Dome.
And the rockets destry de chicken coop not because the Iron dome failed, it was because they launched around 120 rockets, much more than is the las year!
While your responses once evoked ravingly positive and rapturous applause from leftists, socialists, communists and others, you are as-of-late, becoming a pariah even here in the bastion of Leftist Israeli media. You live in the U.S.? Perhaps it's time to start concentrationg on past crimes against your Native-Americans! And...reparations?
You might as well just hang it up now. The "militants" you talk about aren't. They are terrorists and nothing more. They target civilians and children in school buses. They kill innocents. They are despicable in any context.
Israel should be using offensive weapons against Hamas not defensive ones.
... come visit Israel sometime and see the houses and schools that were hit by Hamas rockets. Obama did .. why not you?
Somwhere out there now is a baby chick that no longer has a mother. All of G-d's creations are precious and should not bexwantonly destroyed.
Call Guiness for the world record book. Then call Raetheon and tell them to stop making the Phalanx. Then pull the Phalanx off all your ships. No need anymore, right?
Phalanx needs to be attached to the target as a "last minute" defense when all else has failed. You don't need an Iron dome on every buidling you want to defend
To my understanding, the Phalanx is a ship based gun. Iron dome is land based missile defense system. Different animals. But then you're dealing with commentators who smear Israel for anything and everything.
Durson - your blind bias is so boring. The hamas rocket that hit a school bus and would have killed 30-40 kids if they hadn't just gotten off - is not a chicken coop. There is still a 16yr old in critical condition.
Phalanx is two, two systems in One. The sea version is an anti aircraft and anti-ship missile system. The land based system uses the same radar and shoots rockets and mortars out of the sky before they kill people. In Iraq, Phalanx didn't defend buildings, it defended bases, 3 to for for a base the size of a city. Phalanx is still available in Iraq, but not being used so much any more since it works well. It is also in use in Afghanistan. It has been some years since anybody tried to strafe an American Navy ship, but the system is tested regularly, just like on Israeli and NATO ships. JK should read up more.
Phalanx uses high speed gun to protect specific (small area) target from incoming cruise (not ballistic) missiles. Iron Dome uses rockets to protect large areas from incoming short range ballistic missiles. The two system's capabilities don't overlap. Phalanx could not be used to do what Iron Dome does, and Iron Dome could not be used to do what Phalanx does.
Correct. Phalanx is a point of impact defense weapon that incorporates a gattling gun on a swivel base to engage incoming missiles (and aircraft) as a last-ditch defense. It would make sense to have phalnx units attached to the Iron Dome launcher units to prevent them from being taken out by a barage of missiles too numerous for the ID launcher to handle alone.