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Last month around 12th May 2021, the world's major news channels broadcasted live footage of Israel's fantastic defense system - the Iron Dome, which intercepted a barrage of rocket fired over Tel Aviv launched from the Gaza Strip. These visualsÌýimmediately went viral and were shared and viewed millions of times across social media platforms. Those following the development of the defense sector will be well acquainted with the Iron Dome technology. Still, for the general public, these visuals were nothing less than a fiction movie.

What is this Iron Dome? What is the story behind its invention? Which companies have contributed to its development? - These are the questions that will be answered in this article.

The Background Story

Necessity is the mother of invention; This phrase is 100% true for Israel. For instance, despite being surrounded by harsh deserts and the sea, Israel has solved the country's water problem. In addition, it is probably the only country in the entire Middle East region that has the most advanced irrigation system.ÌýBut Israel's topmost priority is not water conservation but the safety and security of its people. Due to the ongoing border dispute with Palestine, Israel faces sporadic attacks every other day, and recently a conflict continued for a month. The sympathy of other Islamic nations towards Palestine is also a threat to Israel, and for this reason, it has fought several wars (small and full-scale) with its neighboring countries in the past. That is why Israel needs to continue developing new technologies to protect itself and its citizens from current and future threats.

The month of July 2006 was full of challenges for Israel. The country was fighting its second war with Lebanon. Hezbollah (Lebanese Shia Islamist political party) paramilitary forces fired about 4,000 short-range Katyusha rockets at northern city Haifa.ÌýMany Israeli citizens died, and many more relocated to safe houses.ÌýFrom 2000 to 2008, Hamas (Palestinian fundamentalist) also targeted several populated cities of Israel. Hamas' main weapon was the short-range Qassam rockets, which it continues to fire till today.ÌýThese short-range rockets were causing considerable damage to Israel and a solid plan was needed to counter these attacks, and thus the idea of ​​the Iron Dome was born.

The Project Conceptualization

Israel's need was clear, now it needed a defense system that could intercept and neutralize short-range incoming rockets from a reasonable distance.ÌýIsrael's then-Defense Minister, Amir Peretz, had to bargain hard for approval of the project, and convincing other stakeholders (other ministers in his government and officials of the Israel Defense Forces) was not a cakewalk.ÌýUltimately after getting approval, the responsibility of project research was handed over to the Department of Defense (MAFAT).ÌýAnd this responsibility fell on the shoulders of retired brigadier general Danny Gold, who was then senior research executive at MAFAT.

MAFATÌýinitially approached several companies for this project, which includes companies such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon.ÌýBut top officials of the Israeli Defense Forces were not convinced by these companies' project presentation, partly because some nationalist leaders wanted the project to be Israeli-made technology. MAFAT then turned its attention towards Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Limited, a company under the Israeli Defense Ministry.ÌýRafael's competent engineer Chanoch Levin was asked to lead the project. Until that time, the project had no official name - sometimes the idea was to name it Anti-Qassam or sometimes the Golden Dome (KIPAT ZAHAV), but eventually everyone agreed on the name Iron Dome (KIPAT BRAZEL),Ìýand Tamir was finalized for the interceptor missile.

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The Iron Dome is consists of three Major elements together this called battery or Unit.

1. A Detection and Tracking Radar: Developed by the Israeli manufacturer ELTA Systems
2. A Battle Management and Weapon Control System (BMC): The control system is built by an Israeli software company mPrest Systems.
3. A Missile Firing Unit (MFU): Design and built by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems

Ìý Ìý* Rafael and Raytheon have jointly developed Tamir Interceptor Missiles

Challenges and Compromises

Following the naming of the project, a team of 350 experts was formed, which included physicists, aerospace engineers, rocket scientists, computer coders, and industrial engineers.ÌýAfter initial difficulties, the Iron Dome was ready for testing in June 2009. But due to some technical glitches, the system could not fire the missiles, it was a setback for the entire team. The team did not give in, a month later in July, after making some changes in the system wiring, it was tested again and this time interceptor missiles destroyed the missiles mimicking the Qassam rockets – the Iron Dome was ready to be inducted into the Army.

On 27 March 2011, the Iron Dome's first operational unit was deployed on the northern edge of Beersheba. And only ten days later, it had a chance to prove its mettle by successfully intercepting Hamas rockets fired from the Gaza Strip.ÌýInitially, the accuracy of Iron Dome was 80% which has improved a lot over time. Israel currently claims up to 90% of the Iron Dome's interception capacity.ÌýThere was no doubt that the Iron Dome was a successful project, but it cost Israel more dollars than its aggressors. On average the cost of a Tamir missile was 10 times more than that of a Qassam missile. Israel was desperately looking for funding.

Based on inputs from Rafael, Raytheon has developed its own interceptor missile, the SkyHunter, which is a modified version of the Tamir missile. According to the agreement, Rafael will earn a commission on each sale of SkyHunter by Raytheon.

The Road Ahead

The Iron dome was a stepping stone for larger innovation. The Rafael has already developed ±õ-¶Ù°¿²Ñ·¡â„¢, an all-in-one mobile version of the Iron dome which can be mounted on a single truck provides protection for the motorized or mechanized troop, as well as point air defense for military, industrial and administrative installations. °ä-¶Ù°¿²Ñ·¡â„¢ is the naval version, applying proven capabilities, naval threats protecting ships, and other sea-based strategic assets. The David’s Sling is intended to destroy medium-range missiles before they reach Israeli airspace. In addition to that Israeli companies have developed the Arrow, Arrow 2, and Arrow 3 systems for protection against long-range missiles.

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