Turkey would like to develop Golden Cage air defense system similar to Israeli Iron Dome.

According to the Defense News website, the Turkish Defense industry would like to develop a local-made air defense system similar to the Isreali-made Iron Dome, a Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) and Very Short Range Air Defense (V-SHORAD) System. Some Turkish media have published that the project of the new Turkish-made air defense system could be named Golden Cage.

The Israeli Army Iron Dome air defense system in action (Picture source Rafael)

Under this Golden Cage project, the idea is to protect the Turkish border with Syria against the fire of rockets, artillery shells, missiles from across the border by Kurdish and other militias. The Turkish project was presented to the Undersecretary for Defense Industries (SSM) some few days ago during a meeting to review the projects of the Turkish Defense Industry.

In recent months, Turkey, and especially the Turkish border cities of Hatay and Kilis, were subject to rocket attacks from across the border in Syria. In January 2018, four rockets fired from Syria hit a Turkish border killing 2 civilian people and 12 others were wounded.

The Israeli-made Iron Dome is an affordable, effective and innovative defense solution (CR&AM Class) to the asymmetric threats of short-range rockets, (up to and over 70 km), and mortars as well as VSHORAD Missiles System (up to 10 km) against traditional Air Defense targets.

Iron Dome can handle multiple threats simultaneously and efficiently. The system enables effective and selective handling of critical threats aimed at the defended zone to reduce unnecessary launches. The system uses a unique interceptor with a special warhead that detonates any target in the air within seconds. If the estimated rocket trajectory poses a critical threat, a command is given within seconds and an interceptor is launched against the threat.

Since becoming operational by the Israeli Air Force in April 2011, Iron Dome has successfully intercepted over 500 rockets that have been fired from the Gaza Strip at Southern and Central Israel. Iron Dome system has achieved a very high rate of successful interceptions. In doing so, the system saved lives and prevented serious damages to property.