Can Israel‘s ’Iron Dome’ Missile Shield Help Prevent the Next Arab-Israeli War?
- Posted on August 22, 2011 at 2:25pm by
Buck Sexton
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Since a terrorist ambush last Thursday that used the Sinai as a staging ground to kill eight Israelis, Hamas has fired dozens of rockets and mortars into Israel. Fortunately, very few Israelis have been injured or killed by these attacks, thanks in large part to the Israeli missile shield known as the “Iron Dome.”
The Jerusalem Post reports that a senior Israeli defense official claims, “The Iron Dome has proven itself since the beginning of the recent escalation with over 90 percent success rate.” During a visit to the Iron Dome battery near Ashkelon on Sunday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said of the Iron Dome that “this is an unbelievable achievement for us and the soldiers who operate it.”
Just as the Israelis built a security fence to end the threat of suicide bombers infiltrating Israel proper, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) appear poised to build a virtual wall in the sky with its advanced missile defense technology. The Jerusalem Post gave a good overview Monday of both current Iron Dome deployments and plans for the Israeli Air Force (IAF) to expand them in the near future:
“The IAF Air Defense Division currently operates two Iron Dome batteries which are deployed in the South – one near Beersheba and another near Ashkelon. The two batteries have intercepted over 15 rockets fired into the South since the attacks near Eilat on Thursday. The IAF is expected to receive a third Iron Dome battery by the beginning of October… three more batteries and associated equipment and interceptors… will not be ready until the end of 2012…Defense Minister Barak said that he was working on an emergency plan under which nine batteries would be operational by the end of 2013.”
So what exactly is the Iron Dome? In short, it’s a missile interceptor system designed to defend against incoming rockets, artillery rounds, and mortars at ranges from 4 to 70 kilometers. Each Iron Dome missile battery has launchers equipped with 20 Tamir interceptors, and is reportedly capable of protecting an urban area of approximately 150 square kilometers.
The Iron Dome fires two such interceptor rounds at incoming missiles to destroy or deflect them before they can reach their target. It is similar in concept to the “Patriot Missile” system the U.S. deployed in the first Persian Gulf War, which was used to take out Saddam’s SCUD missiles. The Phalanx CIWS (Close In Weapons System) is another missile defense technology used to protect naval vessels against incoming missiles, but it fires a barrage of thousands of 20mm cannon rounds instead of guided missiles like the Iron Dome.
This short video from three days ago shows the Iron Dome take out a Grad rocket fired from Gaza:
The Iron Dome has critical strategic implications for the safety and security of the state of Israel. It has the capability to nullify a weapon of terror against civilians and limits long-range attacks as a tool of incitement to draw IDF forces into an incursion. If Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist groups cannot rain missiles down into Israeli towns and cities with impunity, and if Israel secures its border with Egypt and peace talks progress, perhaps Israel can avert a major Israeli military campaign in the short term.
If the Iron Dome is not able to continue knocking missiles intended for innocent civilians out of the sky, Israel could soon find itself in a full military incursion into Gaza or Lebanon to root out terrorists and their arms caches. No state — not Israel or any other — would allow terrorists outside its borders to kill its citizens and make life miserable with rockets fired from afar.
Still, even though the protective umbrella of the Iron Dome is in place, and poised to grow larger, the security situation appears increasingly precarious for Israel. Hamas requested a ceasefire yesterday and has already violated it.
Hamas will almost certainly continue to attack Israel, and kill innocents, in the weeks ahead. And to the north, Hezbollah waits, and watches, for its moment to strike.
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Comments (51)
Gonzo
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 11:23amI hope it works well for them but, it won’t prevent the war.
Report Post »childs777
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 7:04pmThat is very true, but it may prevent loosing a war.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 6:15amThat system has it’s limits.
Report Post »Seede
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 10:00amEverything has limits. So what is your point?
Report Post »jason1974
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 9:39pmthank god they have something to stop this crap since nobody else in the world can or will help them stop the killing of their people
Report Post »ishka4me
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 11:19pmdome my prevent missles, but what we learned in iraq and Afghanistan is biggest mass murders where by women with body bombs in crowded places. This is low tech war
Report Post »Jefferson
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 1:16am@Jason
Israel has had their own nuclear program since the late 50′s. (300+ nukes) .They are 10 years advanced of anyone in the neighborhood, and the world for that matter. Some of the best weapons makers, and espionage,defe hardware and software. (invented “caller ID”). They have one of the most advanced if not the most advanced intel agency in the world.
They’re not some poor dry strip of land that would dry up and blow away without US AID, and intervention. Iran is not a threat. According to our CIA (which has been overthrowing elected officials and replacing them for big oil interests since 1953), they are not even close to capable of a nuke, and even if they were, they have no way of delivering it. Even if they did have a way, it would be suicidal. They are an advanced society as well as far as academically speaking. They have not invaded anyone in 300 years, and are not stupid enough to bring that on themselves.
Don’t believe the hype. This “joined at the hip” with Israel is a dangerous entangling alliance.
According to the GOA and Fox News they also “spy on us more than any other ally.”
It’s time to put America first, and let Israel and Iran work it out. I know that is going to not float well with some people here, but we are bankrupt, and climbing in bed with any nation over there, is a bad idea that the founders warned us about .Propping up dictators, taking others out , and installing different puppets, and others weapons.. It’s insanity. We’re
Report Post »Ron_WA
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 8:26pmIron Dome is an awesome success; good for the Israelis.
Don’t forget, American forces serving in combat live like this every day; they do not have the choice to relocate, they are located in even more dense & more likely sites to be attacked; they are attacked at rates of as much as 700% the rate of the most attacked Israeli sites.
Say a prayer for American forces in harms way.
Report Post »Blight14
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 7:36pmIt must be sheer hades to live in fear of being attacked 24/7……..GOOD, they deserve it……….BOOM!!!! Ha, scare you there Abe, just kidding around….Now get back to wall bobbing, JeeBoo will protect you……nighty night……………..
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 8:20pmThat’s a better percentage than the U.S. Patriot Missile System. I’d go with it..
Report Post »Bennie Franklin
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 7:23pmHAARP is the real iron dome.
Report Post »Bernard
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 6:59pmIt is good news that Israel’s wall slowed Palestinian terrorists in entering Israel and I am equally glad that “iron dome” is able to fend off missiles from Palestine, but my question is why is Israel allowing Palestine to be the offensive force while Israel has taken only a defensive stand. If this were to happen to nations like China or Russia they would immediately take an offensive strike most probably a preemptive offensive strike. As the “Arab spring” is toppling more and more Muslim dictators in favor for a radical theocracy, sooner or later Israel will be forced to take drastic preemptive offensive strikes against those nations hell bent on the destruction of Israel.
Report Post »As far as I am concerned Israel should have taken an offensive position a long time ago against these unwashed Muslim hordes for they will never give up till they see the end of the nation of Israel and by that the demise of the Christian world.
Joe Botz
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 6:35pmLets hope it works I’d hate to send have to send in my Brother Marines who are overwhelmingly Christian and maybe one Muslim or two to Israel to defend it.
Report Post »FedUpAlready
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:13pmWhy do they have to wait so long for more of these systems? Is Obama dragging his goat hoofs, to deliver more of these systems? Israel is our ally and friend, we can do better then this. As goes Israel, so goes the Western civilization!
Report Post »Conservative_Independent
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:18pmThis is an Israeli design and manufacutured system. Not sure why the lag time in delivery since they own the technology.
Report Post »Ron_WA
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 8:23pmNot an Obama fan buy you cannot blame Obama for this any more the he can blame Bush for his current economic policies.
This is an Israeli built & fielded system; if they want to accelerate the fielding they have to choose to do so.
Now the US did pony up a lot of money for the research & development of this system (‘cuz we want access to the technology) but again it ultimately an Israeli system.
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:56pmI read the end of the “Book, ” but I am all out for postponing it , as long as possible ( praying the ” Lord’s Will ” ) , of course.
Report Post »fastfacts
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:49pmREMEMBER THAT ISRAEL ONLY ATTACKS AFTER BEING ATTACKED, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND…
Also remember that it is the Palestinians/Hamas that attacks Israel and rushes the borders. Here is a prime example of Hamas attacking soldiers at the border and the soldiers holding strong: http://www.americanparchment.com/video/2011/may/israeli_soldiers_border.html
Report Post »LOJ
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:47pmIron Dome has been effective, but even more effective will be the wrath of the Almighty against Israel’s enemies. I don’t know what God has in store, but you can bet that nations will see whatever happens on the Internet and Television.
Report Post »Professional Infidel
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:02pmI almost can’t wait. time to pay for your Sins, Hamas.
Report Post »Patriot Z
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:23pmno it wont…but if you actually kill your eemy and wipe them out…THAT will stop them. ya want peace kill muslims
Report Post »ProbIemSoIver
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:39pmTo all you uninformed people that think RON PAUL did not know Israel could defend themselves from IRAN, I say, you are truly Morons !!!
Report Post »JRook
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:17pm“Israeli officials on Monday praised the effectiveness of the U.S.-funded Iron Dome anti-rocket defence system, despite its failure to shoot down a rocket fired from Gaza that killed a man in a residential area.” For those who want to slash spending, why did the US pay for this system. Israel is not a poor country.
Report Post »eagle2715
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:07pm$$ dosn’t buy you knowledge. This system is extremly complicated and on the cutting edge of balistic tech. Plus by having our fingers in it we can build and use the system as well…
Report Post »pap pap
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:01pm“Hamas requested a ceasefire yesterday and has already violated it.”
What a big surprise. They lie as much as Obama does.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:15pmOf course … they only use a cease fire to reload!
TEA!
I stand with ISRAEL
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:41pm14 times in 24 hours I read in the Israeli National News
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:57pmSmall minds think alike.
Report Post »theamericanvision
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 2:57pmIron Dome=Successful
Report Post »Iron Hammer=More successful
Revere2
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 2:50pmThis will escalate because Hamas has no honor.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 2:47pmIt would be a lot easier to simply send a few nukes back the other way… problem solved. (Just sayin’)
Report Post »Ron_WA
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 8:32pmI’m all for that – it will render the entire “holy land” uninhabitable for possibly thousands of years. That will solve the immediate problem.
Report Post »commonsense2012
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 2:43pmIf I wanted to bankrupt Israel, I could shoot rockets all day. The interceptors are said to cost Israel $50,000 a piece. 100 interceptors = $500,000 1000 interceptors = $5,000,000 x 10 days = $50,000,000
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 2:56pmThere is one difference with Israel though; if they fail in the defense, broke or not, they are facing the annhilation of their national identity for good.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:21pmNot too worry as the US is evidently paying a good part of the bill… “Israeli officials on Monday praised the effectiveness of the U.S.-funded Iron Dome anti-rocket defence system, despite its failure to shoot down a rocket fired from Gaza that killed a man in a residential area.” For those who are correct in seeking to reduce spending why would we be paying for this. Israel is not a poor country.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:09pm@JROOK
Report Post »Why are we paying for some 29 mosques to be rebuilt in middle east countries?
eagle2715
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:10pmLets compare paying for a system that has saved lives, and will continue to do so, and paying for a system that helps feed the coruption of DC……
How can you even compare something that works against some of the other cuts we need? You wana cut “sharks with friggin lazers attached to their head” i’m all for it, but don’t talk about cutting military spending on defensive systems…. Next you‘ll be saying we shouldn’t be paying for research into new ejection seats, or traumatic injury related to combat wounds…..
Report Post »palerider54
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 6:42pmI agree with Cessna, no mater what the cost, a couple nukes would fix it.
While your at it, send a few towards Iran.
Heck, turn the whole goat herder nations into a sheet of glass and be done with it.
Then we could cut a hole in the glass and get enough free oil to pay the American taxpayers back for all they have spent over there.
If they had listened to God and destroyed all the desendents of Ishmail when he told them to, there would have been peace in the middle east ever since.
Report Post »Ron_WA
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 8:50pm@ PALERIDER54 : I’m all for nuking Iran. F’ the cost of lives (1 million +), the refugee issue & immorality of it – this an issue of long term US physical survival.
The only issue we need to factor in is that there are at least 3 (possibly) of the 10 nuclear capable nations may retaliate against what they see as a rogue nuclear power. Of course we’re highly likely to counter-strike.
In the end the US will prevail but the cost will be very, very high. (just sayin’)
Report Post »Seede
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 10:11amYou forget that there is a limit before Israel would launch the big one — That would end the attacks–
Report Post »thomas242007
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 2:40pmi dont see why israel doesnt just unload on whatever country attacks it, they are way to nice, israel time to take off the gloves
Report Post »tomloy
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 2:36pmI doubt it will stop the next war, but it will save Israeli lives. In an optimal situation Iron Dome would shoot down the rockets so they would explode over palestinian territory.
Report Post »elf1362
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 7:17pm…and then they will complain to the UN…
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 2:34pmBeween the Iron Dome and the shelters Israel is doing all it can to lessen casualties. The MSM, except for FOXnews ignored the fact that the Hamas homemade rockets are loaded with ball bearings, with the intent of maximum damage and death. The truce will only allow time for Hamas to resupply their rocket and missles.
Report Post »WhatsYerProblem
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 2:33pmShort answer. No.
Palestinians and Muslims will never stop attacking Israel as long as it exists. Never. Until one side is completely wiped out.
Report Post »SacredHonor1776
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 2:31pmIsrael is too nice… They should just invade gaza, and take over, adn be done with it…
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:00pmAs long as Israel has borders, they will be attacked.
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:25pm@Shasta
Report Post »True, but giving up Gaza made them far more vulnerable. It was a huge mistake.
AlansTigg
Posted on August 22, 2011 at 2:27pmis it wrong that the picture of the iron dome makes me giggle??
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