“Iron Dome technology can detect when a rocket is about to crash in the air, eliminating the need for interception, and when a missile is about to hit a residential or densely populated area. The Iron Dome system intercepts a Hamas rocket, pictured here on May 16, 2021.
Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system successfully intercepted a drone from the Hamas militant group, the first time Iron Dome has intercepted a drone, the IDF said. Since the outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iron Dome has intercepted 90 percent of threatening Hamas rockets.
The Israel Defense Forces said Monday (May 17) that Israel has intercepted six drones in a variety of responses since the conflict between Israel and Hamas broke out on May 10. Senior air force officials called the interception of the drones a major advance in defense.
Last year, Israel upgraded the new capabilities of its Iron Dome air defense system, including an exercise to operate with other air defense systems to counter multiple threats, and this year conducted another exercise to shoot down unmanned air systems.
Israeli media reported on May 13 that Hamas launched several drones from the Gaza Strip. An Israeli F-16 equipped with a Python-5 Air-to-Air Missile shot down one of the drones and the Iron Dome system intercepted the other. Local daily Yodiot Ahronot reported that other drones were also shot down by Israel through “clandestine methods.
On May 13, the IDF stated, “A short time ago, the Iron Dome air defense system intercepted a drone belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization, which was flying over Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. The IAF kept the drone under surveillance until it was intercepted. The IDF is continuing to protect Israel’s airspace and will not allow such activities to take place.”
Pictured is the Iron Dome system intercepting Hamas rockets on May 17, 2021.
On May 17, the IDF added that this was the first time Iron Dome had intercepted a drone in combat.
“The Iron Dome defense system, developed and manufactured by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, is comprised of a launch module, a radar module, a control module, a detection module, and a detection module. It is capable of intercepting incoming rockets and missiles through the Tamir interceptor missile produced by Raytheon, which is generally considered to have an interception range of 40 miles and is a terminal interceptor system.
In addition, Iron Dome technology can detect when a rocket will crash in the air, eliminating the need to intercept it, and when a missile will hit a residential or densely populated area.
“Rafael Advanced Defense Systems did not comment on the interception of the drones. The Israeli Defense Ministry also did not comment on the matter.
The Iron Dome system intercepts a Hamas rocket on May 18, 2021.
In March, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said, “The technological capabilities developed by the defense industry, including the Iron Dome and multilayer missile defense systems, are vital to Israel’s national defense. In the face of emerging and rapidly changing threats, these new capabilities provide the political team and the defense establishment with operational flexibility that is critical to our national security.”
At the time, Israel’s missile defense agency said, “Iron Dome was tested under a variety of complex scenarios and successfully intercepted and destroyed simulated existing and emerging threat targets, including the simultaneous interception of multiple drones as well as flak rockets and missiles.”
Since May 10, Hamas has fired approximately 3,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel. Iron Dome has intercepted more than 1,000, or 90 percent of the threatening munitions. Many of Hamas’ rockets have landed in open areas, some even in Gaza proper, due to malfunction problems. Hamas drones have now been added to the rocket threat.
Israel has been developing multiple systems for detecting and countering drones, including new laser systems and drones that use nets to bring down swarms of small drones. Rafael has developed lasers that can shoot down drones, and the company demonstrated the ability to intercept numerous small drones in a demonstration in February 2020.
Israel also uses aircraft and helicopters with missiles to counter the drone threat.
To watch how the Iron Dome system intercepts rockets and more, click here.
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