Iran has fulfilled his threat and has launched his response against Israel with a brainstorm against different parts of the country. The Iranian regime has assured that it is a retaliation after it, before which it has promised the “Zionist enemy.”
Throughout Friday, goencouragement has carried out around 150 missile releases against Israel, but just a few have impacted against the planned objectives, When the vast majority remain intercepted by the Israeli defense system known as ‘Iron dome’.
Precisely the Iron dome, it has become, since it began to be used ten years ago, a primary element in the defense of Israel. It is a shield that covers the sky based on fixed stalls -concrete monoliths that contain the structure of projectiles -or mobile projectiles -a kind of huge trucks with wheels that carry them where necessary -activated when a radar throws a notice. Points that are deployed especially in the center of the country, with a few soldiers that activate the shot and, while, they wait.
How does it work?
The Kipat Barzel, as it is called in Hebrew, has a double vital role: that of the detection and tracking of rockets and that of AvisOr, because knowing where one can launch a notice for the population to be safe -israel has armored shelters in the streets and, also, there is an order to build always reserving a room like Shelter, covered with protective sheets, with special door and windows. Obviously, with that sensitivity, it also detects airplanes, helicopters or drones.
He System detects projectiles that are launched in a range of four to 70 kilometers and responds by shooting a tamir missile that intercepts the incoming rockets in the Israeli territory. The dome is especially reinforced in Tel Aviv, the capital, and its surroundings, until reaching the south and the border with Gaza, as they are the most exposed areas by distance and by volume of the population they house. There is also a special deployment around strategically important places, such as Dimona’s nuclear power plant, in the center.
First The radar comes into play, which detects an incoming missile and transmits the information to the threatened place, alerting the population about the emergency. That alert can reach the population with up to a minute in advance, but on other occasions it is just a few seconds. But the Iron Dome consists of two more elements: a weapons control system and battle management (BMC) and a missile shooting unit (MFU, for its acronym in English).
“The radar detects the launch of a rocket and transmits information about its trajectory to the control center, which calculates the expected impact point”explains the Israeli army. “If this location justifies an interception, a missile is triggered to intercept the rocket. The interceptor missile user load explodes near the rocket, in a place that is not expected to cause injuries.”
Each Mobile or battery system is composed of a radar to identify objectives, a control system and a portable missile launcher. LThe missiles measure approximately three meters long and 15 centimeter in diameter, and weigh 90 kilos, according to the technical file supplied by the government in 2012. The system is easy to transport, and only a few hours are needed to relocate and configure it. In addition, it works, do good or bad weather.
Why was it
Israel began to develop the defense system in February 2007he completed his test series in July 2010 and was declared Operational in 2011, With a huge media artifice. A April 7 of that year, After the neutralization of a first missile launched from the Gaza Strip to the Israeli city of Ashkelon.
In its beginnings, intercepted 70% of the rockets launched from Gaza, a capacity that was tested in the first in 2012. “It was clear that we needed it. It was the first demonstration that the South and Center were unprotected at a threat that was different from those we could have in the West Bank or East Jerusalem,” explains a military source to El Huffpost.
Refers to the fact that in those Two territories What are produced are clashes with the armed and police forces of Israel, stones attacks, demonstrations, colonists with settlers … But there are no armed militias with the ability to create rockets and launch them. Gaza was the flank to protect.
In 2012, in the defensive Pilar Operation (nine days, Israel launched 750 attacks and the Palestinians fired 650 rockets, resulting in two dead in Israel and 170 in Gaza) Improved interception, rising to 85% of the rockets.
What costs
He Project is “expensive but effective”, has always defended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The initial development was carried out by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, a state company based in the northern city of Haifa, but, finally, it has also had the help of the US, firm ally of Tel Aviv.
In May 2010, the White House approved a plan to provide 205 million dollars for the iron dome and in July 2012, a fund with 70 more was added. “This is a program that has been critical to give security and protection for Israeli families,” said the then president, Barack Obama, to justify spending. “It is a program that has been reviewed and has prevented missile attacks in Israel,” he added. Since then and with data from October 2024, the United States has provided $ 1.6 billion
Not only is money, it is that the US also asked to be co -owner of technology and enter its production in 2011, something also collected by the US Congress. In March 2014, both governments signed a co -production agreement to allow the manufacture of the dome system components in the United States, at the same time that the United States Missile Defense Agency (MDA) was provided to the United States Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
According to data from 2024, the price of the system amounts to 50 million dollars and the most expensive are the missiles, because each costs $ 62,000.
