The Defense Ministry has successfully completed an upgraded version of the Iron
Dome anti-rocket shield, it announced Sunday.
The upgraded system,
designed to shoot down rockets at greater ranges than those offered by the older
Iron Dome batteries, was tested on Sunday.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak
described the development as “significant progress toward the completion of a
multi-layered defense system,” adding that further resources will need to be
invested.
Barak emphasized the US’s financial support for Israel’s aerial
defense capabilities and the Iron Dome system.
A fifth Iron Dome battery,
possessing the enhanced capabilities, will come into service within the air
force’s Air Defense Command in the coming days.
Iron Dome is the first
system of its kind in use in the world, and has intercepted over 100 rockets
fired at southern Israel from Gaza in recent years.
The upgrade, carried
out by the ministry’s Administration for the Development of Weapons and
Technological Infrastructures, is part of a wider initiative to create a
multi-layered defense system for missiles and rockets threatening the Israeli
home front.
The air defenses include the Magic Wand [also known as
David’s Sling] batteries, for shooting down medium-range rockets, and the Arrow
2 system, which intercepts ballistic missiles in the upper
atmosphere.
The Ministry of Defense is also developing the Arrow 3, which
will be capable of destroying long-range ballistic missiles in
space.
Iron Dome is being jointly developed by Israeli defense companies
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Elta Group [a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace
Industries], and mPrest Systems.
The companies are working together with
the Defense Ministry and the air force.