Israel completes test campaign of Iron Dome air defense system.

The Israel Missile Defense Organization in the DDR&D of the Ministry of Defense has successfully completed a complex test campaign of an advanced version of the Iron Dome System, exactly a decade after the first successful test, Israeli MoD has tweeted.

Iron Dome test fires (Picture source: Twitter account of Israeli MoD)

The Iron Dome entered operational service with the Israeli Defence Forces in early 2011, and since then has been the most used missile defense system in the world, boasting nearly a 90% success rate intercepting over 1500 incoming targets heading towards population centers. Since becoming operational with the Israeli Air Force in April 2011, the Iron Dome has successfully intercepted hundreds of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip at Southern and Central Israel. Iron Dome system has achieved a very high rate of successful interceptions.

The Iron Dome is the only combat-proven dual mission system in the world that provides an effective defense solution for countering rockets, artillery & mortars (C-RAM) as well as aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, PGMs. The Iron Dome air defense system is indeed effective to counter C-RAM (Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar) threats with ranges of up to 70 km and for VSHORAD (Very Short Range Air Defense System) protection (up to 10 km). The system operates during day/night in all-weather conditions, including low clouds, rain, dust storms or fog. 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 latest version of the Israeli-made Iron Dome is able to intercept mortar shells that are in the air for just 15 seconds.