Hey missile attack Iran’s move against Israel on Tuesday did more than accelerate the escalation of military tension in the region, leaving the Middle East a step closer to a long-term war. In a way, the incident in Tehran provided the umpteenth demonstration of how the Iron Domethe Israelis veered into the pit to avoid enemy targets.
With his strength. Infirmities and. In fact, as the Netanyahu government opens fronts with Hamas, Hezbollah, Tehran or the Houthis of Yemen and Israel, it receives attacks with air weapons such as these. this week or last Aprilmany questions arise: How effective is the anti-missile shield? What will happen if Israel’s enemies worship the forces together?
What is “Iron Dome”? The name is quite epic, but it gives a clear idea of what the Jewish State’s air defense system consists of. Or something at least. At home It is nothing more or less than a shield to intercept an enemy and a missile fired by a weapon to 70 kilometers. To achieve this, it is divided into three parts: radars, a mechanism capable of tracking the trajectory that the weapon will follow, and a ball that is used to launch “interceptors”, rockets that destroy attacks.
The shield was developed more than a decade ago in 2011, after the war with Hezbollah In 2006, when Shiite Islamist groups attacked Lebanon and almost Israel 4,000 missiles. The firm Rafael Advacend Systems, which participated in its design, highlights that for the next 13 years its technology, which includes the I-Dome and C-Dome systems, has enabled it. 5,000 interceptions.
For popular areas… and convenient. It is estimated that iron dome batteries are widespread throughout Israel and that everyone has them between three and four launchers equipped around the Tamir interceptor with twenty missiles.
His ability? Anyone can follow the rules 1,100 shells at one time in a radius of up to 70 km2 and each ten units of the system can defend an area of up to 150 km2. Of course, the Dome only protects some of the country’s enclosures. The purpose is to track the projectiles with the enemy several cases to population areas or * “critical matters” the nation’s military bases.
Effective, but… Infallible? Iron Dome is effective, but does not reach 100% foolproof effectiveness. This is clear on Tuesday when Tehran launched an attack with 180 missiles against Israel, which were forced to raise alarms in major cities, such as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Although some of the missiles were intercepted by the shield, some were intercepted They came to Israel. in Tehran They stick to the chest. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian certain yesterday which he showed his displeasure, the principality “fragile than glass”.
It strengthens Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps 90% of the projects They achieved their goals. Israel managed to intercept most of its rockets with countermeasures. It is true that everything indicates that the damage of the Iranian attack is minor. This is what he is talking about except one deceasedA 38-year-old Palestinian was buried yesterday in the West Bank after being hit by a missile.
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90% efficiency. It boasts a “success rate”. Rafael’s military company and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which stand out Iron Dome manages to destroy 90% (or even more) from the missiles of the enemy. “It is the most used system in the world, intercepting more than 1,500 targets with a success rate of more than 90% since it was implemented in 2011” emphasizes aerospace and defense company RTX Corporation, based in Virginia, USA.
The percentage is certainly high, but it confirms that the system is not infallible, as was made clear by the rocket attacks launched in Iran on Tuesday or in April, when Israel sent Tehran. about 300 drone, ballistic and cruise missiles in response to an alleged Israeli attack on its embassy in Syria.
“In the April attack, the ballistic missiles that Iran fired at Israel had a success rate of penetrating the defenses, not hitting the target. Between twenty and thirty percent of the missiles that landed on Israeli soil managed to hit. “So they are far from being effective. . Although between 70 and 80% of the pulse is a technical factor”. he explained yesterday Country Guillermo Pulido, defense magazine analyst The army.
A “controversial” issue. It is not easy to talk about the effectiveness of the Iron Dome; remember Euro News expert Jean-Loup Samaan, the analyzes are based primarily on estimates and data from the Israeli Government itself.
“As far as he said the effectiveness is very high. There is talk of a 90% interception rate, but the question is, ‘What does that mean?’ reflects A Middle East expert who advises that the shield should only focus on projectiles in urban areas or at sensitive targets. “If a rocket is launched from Gaza into an unpopulated area, the system will not activate, so it is difficult to say what is behind the 90% effectiveness rate.”
And the mass of the bureau? That is a big question leave bouncing Samaan. Regardless of the percentage of effectiveness, whether it is more or less close to 90%, it is clear that the Dome did not prevent Israel’s enemies from continuing their missile attacks. What’s more, the expert notes that in October 2023, at the beginning of the current conflict in Gaza, Hamas fired a significant number of projectiles. In April, Iran sent about 300 and on Tuesday it sent back another 200. “This shows that the Dome can work effectively, but not deterrence in a timely manner.”
And if there is a major attack? The next question, in view of the success rate recognized by the manufacturer of the Dome and the IDF or the capacity of the system, is… What will happen if the different enemies of Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran or the Yemeni Houthis, join forces in a joint attack?
Last year the United States Air Force estimated that Iran had “More than 3,000” ballistic missiles, Hezbollah too to a solid arsenal from the compound thousands of missilesbut mostly from the small land and artillery, many without leadership. Whether it is so or not, the Lebanese confirm that the military group will be able to reach all areas of Israel.
Hamas itself is claimed by the IDF a 2014 report “Terrorist organizations in the Strip” have 10,000 rockets, including long-range missiles, such as the M-302. “Hamas orders 6,000 of these.”
Above the Iron Dome. The dome is just part of Israel’s air defense system. In addition to the support that allies like the US can provide, that on Tuesday I send three groups we throw a fighter into the region just before the Iranian attack, the shield of the Jewish State’s anti-missile shield is made up of several layers. Dome, probably the most popular, is designed for short bursts and projectiles at intervals between four and 70 km.
Another of its systems is what David called a slingshot, aimed at long-range attacks, cruise and ballistic missiles. The BBC works which is designed for a distance of up to 300 km. The third layer would be formed by the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems, firing medium and long range ballistic missiles. up to 2,400 km. It would be an extra layer; scheduled for 2015laser system for attacks up to seven kilometers.
Another key: expense (big). There would be another key factor, besides the plan or the success of the defense system, the cost. The effectiveness of the Dome may be “controversial”; as Samaan showswhich is clear, that it is not a cheap use. It is estimated that each missile Tamir uses to destroy the opponent’s attack costs $50,000. A negligible amount in the smallest case, if compared to the Stunner missiles that David Honda uses, with a unit price; BBC networkabout a million dollars.
There are sources by which it is shown that some of the interceptors of Israel take the greater part. A US congressional report shows that the country contributed about $3 billion to the Iron Dome batteries, its interceptors and various costs, including maintenance.
Images | Raphael and Wikipedia
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