The Iron Dome is an Israeli-made effective and innovative mobile defense solution for countering short-range rockets and 155 mm artillery shell threats with ranges of up to 70 km in all weather conditions, including low clouds, rain, dust storms or fog.
Country users: Israel, United States
Technical Data
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Battery
Iron Dome is composed of three fundamental elements - detection and tracking radar, battle management, and weapon control system (BMC). A missile firing unit (MFU) with 20 ready-to-fire from container launchers (three launchers for one single battery). The radar system EL/M-2084 has been developed by an Israeli defense company, Elta. The control system has been built by an Israeli software company, mPrest Systems, engaged by Rafael.
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Missile
The missile launched by the firing unit of Iron Dome includes Tamir interceptor missiles. It has several steering fins for high maneuverability and is equipped with electro-optic sensors. The Tamir interceptor was designed for high efficiency and low cost. The missile uses elements that have already been proven in other Rafael designs and employs new components designed for others in a special warhead that detonates any target in the air within seconds. Tamir missile is 3 m long, weighs 90 kg, and has a 160 mm diameter.
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Mobility
The Iron Dome battery components are usually carried on a 6x6 vehicle and can be rapidly placed in a position to protect strategic infrastructure targets, civilian population centers, or key military targets. Each Iron Dome battery has 20 interceptors, all of which can engage different targets at the same time.
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Combat Use
The Iron Dome radar detects and identifies the rocket or artillery shell launch and monitors its trajectory. Target data is transmitted to the Battle Management & Weapon Control (BMC) for processing. The threat’s trajectory is quickly analyzed and the expected impact point is estimated. If the estimated rocket trajectory poses a critical threat, a command is given within seconds and an interceptor is launched against the threat.
The interceptor receives trajectory updates from the BMC via uplink communication. The interceptor approaches the target and uses its radar seeker to acquire the target and guides the interceptor within passing distance. The target warhead is detonated over a neutral area, therefore reducing collateral damage to the protected area. The Iron Dome is able to intercept and eliminate a wide range of threats as mortar shells through Hamas' Qassams, Hezbollah's Katyusha rockets and even the Fajr rockets supplied by Iran to Hezbollah and Hamas. Besides its role as a C-RAM system, Iron Dome can also provide combined C-RAM and Very Short Range Air Defense (VSHORAD) defense for air bases, military staging areas as well as coverage for maneuver units in the corps, division and brigade areas of responsibility - protecting stationary as well as mobile elements such as command posts, artillery fire units, troop concentrations, etc. A single Iron Dome battery is required to protect an urban area of approximately 150 sq km from rockets fired at a range of 15 km, with the defended area growing if the rockets are fired from greater distances.
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