• Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a barrage of rocket attacks in southern Israel on October 7, giving cover to an unprecedented, multi-pronged infiltration of fighters into Israel from Gaza, a narrow strip that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians.

• Israel’s anti-missile system — Iron Dome — intercepted many rockets that were fired from Gaza.

• Israel is protected by a multi-layered defence array, which includes the Arrow-2, Arrow-3, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome active defence systems. 

i) Iron Dome: Intercepts short-range surface-to-surface rockets (bottom layer).

ii) David’s Sling: Intercepts short to medium and medium to long range surface-to-surface missiles (middle layer).

iii) Arrow-2: Intercepts medium to long range missiles (upper layer).

iv) Arrow-3: Intercepts long-range missiles (upper layer).

• Together, they defend Israel against various airborne threats.

What is Iron Dome?

• The Iron Dome is an innovative, mobile system that defends the state against short-range rockets. It is capable of successfully handling multiple incoming threats simultaneously. 

• It is the world’s first missile defence system developed to tackle the threat of short range rockets and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

• Development of the Iron Dome was launched in 2007 and the system became operational in March, 2011.

• Shortly thereafter, it performed its first operational interception of a Grad rocket fired from the Gaza Strip at the Israeli city of Ashkelon. 

• Since then, the Iron Dome’s capabilities have been tested consistently, and the system has successfully prevented countless rockets from hitting Israeli communities. 

• The United States was a  partner in the development of the Iron Dome system, and continues to develop the system with Israel. 

• The Israel Missile Defence Organisation (IMDO) leads the development of the Iron Dome, with Rafael Advanced Defence Systems as the main contractor.

• Iron Dome is considered as one of the most advanced defence systems in the world.

• It uses a radar in order to identify and destroy air-based threats before they can cause any damage.

• Iron Dome is a highly mobile, dual mission system that is constantly evolving and has grown over the years providing protection for motorised or mechanised troops, as well as point air defence for military, industrial and administrative installations.

• Each truck-towed unit fires radar-guided missiles to blow up short-range threats like rockets, mortars and drones in mid-air. 

• The C-Dome is the naval version, protecting strategic naval and land assets against advanced ballistic, aerial and surface-to-surface threats, including saturated attacks.

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