Iron Dome - Rocket Killer or Hype?

Iron Dome is a household name in Israel and maybe the rest of the world, given the recent unfortunate conflict that has flared up between Hamas and Israel. Iron Dome conceptually nothing genius as it is essentially a missile defence system. Military forces worldwide have been using anti-missile missiles for decades. All of the anti-missile dilemma started with the debut of flying bombs and ballistic missiles in World War II, the world understood that there was a problem to solve: to hit a high-speed missile, another quick missile was needed. The only challenge with the anti-missiles so far has been its accuracy. In this article we will delve deeper into the process and technology used to operationalise Iron Dome and make an informed assessment on whether it is truly a rocket killer that it claims to be or just a hype!

Iron Dome's Purpose

At its roots, Iron Dome is part of a strategic, multi-tiered missile defence system designed and developed jointly by the United States and Israel in response to the threats Israel faces from short and medium-range rockets and mortar shells fired from Gaza and rockets fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon. The Iron Dome intercepts a range of incoming threats upto a range of 70 kms, these threats could vary from Counter-Rocket Artillery Mortar known as C-RAM to precision guided missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and air-breathing threats. So far, the Iron dome has intercepted around 85% to 90% of the incoming missiles.

Currently, there are two variants of Iron Dome: I-DOME which is the mobile version of the system, which can be deployed on a single truck, while C-DOME which is a naval version.

Components of Iron Dome

There are three fundamental elements that make the Iron Dome:

1. Detection and Tracking Radar

2. Battle Management & Weapon Control System, and

3. Missile Firing Unit.

The missiles are fired from a team-operated batteryact in conjunction with the radar-guided early warning systems to intercept incoming threats. The radar system has been developed by Israeli defence company Elta and the battle management and weapon control system has been built by an Israeli software company mPrest Systems.

The Interceptor missiles launched by the Missile Firing Unit of Iron Dome are called TAMIR – a Hebrew acronym that means interceptor missile. TAMIR are made up of several steering fins for high manoeuvrability and are equipped with electro-optic sensors. Due to this the missile system has day-and-night, all-weather capability, quick reaction time, and salvo interception capability as well. It can also adapt to rapidly evolving and numerous threats at the same time. TAMIR is 3 m long, weighs 90 kg with 6.3in in diameter.

Iron Dome in action

The Iron Dome relies upon a high-resolution AESA radar which stands for Active Electronically Scanned Array radar to detect and track incoming projectiles. AESA is a type of phased array antenna that is computer-controlled in which the beam of radio waves can be electronically steered to point in different directions without moving the antenna. The benefit of this is improved longer term reliability, fast steering and using multiple beams of waves. After detecting and identifying the rocket, Iron Dome radar monitors its path. Based on the radar’s information, the system’s Battle Management and Weapon control system uses Artificial Intelligence to quickly analyse the path of the threat and calculate an anticipated point of impact. If the calculated path of the incoming rocket poses a real threat, a command is run to launch an interceptor against the threat and the incoming rocket is detonated over a neutral area in the air. It is truly incredible that all this analysis and decision making is happening in a matter of milliseconds.

Final thoughts

Israel’s Iron Dome is more than a missile defence system. It is practically an icon; a symbol of how technological creativity can enable one rocket to knock another rocket out of the sky. After a decade of operational work of the Iron Dome system, I think it is fair to tip our hat to all the scientists and engineers who have worked on this project over the past 15 years. The decision-making stages, development of the system, its integration and its transition into successful operationalisation and use, through continuous improvements along the way is truly astonishing.

Having said that, Iron Dome is not yet complete, and it will likely continue to evolve for many years to come. Threats are testing, evaluating and analysing Iron Dome's capabilities all the time and without question they will always be evolving trying to break this defence system.