Israel, which has taken important steps on air defense systems since 2011, has an air defense system called Iron Dome, which is considered the most advanced in the world today. This unmanned defense system, which came to the fore again due to the war between Palestine and Israel, continues to be the focus of great debates, although it is considered quite successful today.
Because society is divided into two when it comes to seeing this system as successful. While some see this as a perfect invention because it reduces the number of casualties, others describe this system as a failure because it does not create enough trust in society. Of course, to decide this, first of all, “What is Iron Dome?” It is necessary to answer the question.
What exactly is this Iron Dome?
You can think of the Iron Dome as a shield that covers the country and protects it from incoming attacks. Of course, contrary to popular belief, this name is not given to a single device. This name is given to the entire system provided by different devices. This system, built by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with US support under the Obama administration, came into operation in 2011.
There are 10 systems in total, each with 3 to 4 launchers, 20 Tamir missiles and radar. Only one of these can track 1,000 rockets at the same time. Thanks to this sophistication, the system has a success rate of 90 to 95 percent. In this way, he managed to destroy thousands of rockets in the air.
So how does this system work?
Sensitive radars, equipped with specific features according to Israel’s location, constantly scan and search for threats. These radars, which can detect even a bullet fired into the air, can instantly detect rockets. Through these radars, it is possible to see from the front where the incoming missiles will land. If it is going to fall on a settlement or similar important places, necessary calculations are made and rockets are sent. Each system can provide protection in an area of 75 kilometers.
If the rockets fall into empty places, there is no need to fire the Tamir missiles, one of which costs roughly $100,000. Again, it is the system itself that decides this. In other words, situations such as unannounced attacks do not matter much.
Before talking about the repair missiles in more detail, let’s talk about those sent by Palestine.
These rockets, known as Qassam missiles, are actually quite primitive. It is not possible for them to hit any specific target because they do not have any guidance mechanism inside them. Besides the fact that they can be easily produced in large quantities, they often do not even explode. Even though they sometimes have explosives on their tips, they move like iron piles thrown from the air towards Israel.
There is no algorithm or mechanism to decide where they will fall. Just because of the ease of launch and production; They can be fired at an angle from balconies, truck beds or other different places. Where they will fall is left to the laws of physics. So basically it’s not something to be afraid of. But since hundreds of them can be launched at the same time, it poses a big problem.
They are facing Tamir missiles. Why is this missile you see worth $100,000?
Repair missiles can travel up to 2.5 times the speed of sound. Also, unlike the rockets from Palestine, these are smart missiles. It has features such as changing targets while in the air and tracking the object. In addition, its high maneuverability and advanced sensors enable it to adapt to conditions while in the air.
When it approaches the target, the 15-16 kilo explosive in the rocket’s head is activated and shrapnel is thrown in all directions. This allows the rocket to be destroyed in the air by explosion, even if it does not make direct contact. Thanks to fast rockets and advanced radar systems, the Iron Dome acts like an umbrella over Israel.
What was the situation like before this system came?
As we said, the Iron Dome system appeared in 2011. But Israel’s conflicts go back much further than that. A conflict involving missiles took place in Lebanon in 2006 with the Hezbollah organization. During the 34-day conflict, 4,000 rockets hit Israeli territory. In this context, 53 people lost their lives.
In another conflict in 2014, 3,360 rockets were fired at the end of a 50-day conflict, resulting in 2 casualties. Of course, even if there is only one loss of life, it would be a mistake to beautify the situation here. But it would equally be a mistake to say that Iron Dome was not successful.
The Iron Dome, which destroyed more than 2,500 rockets in total, still protects Israel. Since it is mobile, its location can be changed.
But the system is not perfect.
Tamir missiles may not be able to keep up with Qassam missiles, which can be produced at a cost of 800 to a few thousand dollars. This is the biggest obstacle to the system. Therefore, when a large number of rockets are fired, it is inevitable that some places will be hit. Still, this system, deployed throughout the country, provides a high level of protection.
So why didn’t it have any effect on the rockets that arrived over the weekend?
Some Israeli officials compared the situation to the Pearl Harbor attack and said that the attack was unexpected. But for the most part, this question remains unanswered. It was also stated that this will be discussed when the situation is under control. According to many people, the air defense system was inadequate due to the large number of rockets. But it would be a mistake to trust any of the claims until the official statement comes.
As we all know, there are no winners in wars. Before admiring it, the first thing we should consider is that such a system has to be used.
You can take a look at the content below to learn about the Israeli-Palestinian tension.
Don’t forget to take a look at our content where we explain how to access accurate information in times of crisis such as war.
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