Posted on 02/18/2011 6:18:39 AM PST by edpc
The Iron Dome missile intercept system will be declared operational within a number of weeks, after the Israel Air Force – who will be responsible for operating the system – conducted successful test-runs for the first time on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The interception of target missiles in the test-runs proved successful, and this marked the final stage of tests of the new Israel Air Force unit.
The operation was conducted at a test site in southern Israel, practicing five different scenarios in which the system launched rockets at various ranges. The missiles launched by the Iron Dome successfully intercepted and destroyed the rockets in every scenario.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
ME list ping
ME list ping
I have been watching this for along time. Very cool system and I have also watched a Laser version tested in White Sands New Mexico!!!
Nautilus or Skyguard...?
"You can't hit a bullet with a bullet. Missile defense is a complete waste of money. It is destabilizing. And war-mongering. And racist and homophobic. (And the targets are only Jews anyway.) So it must be stopped. And Netanyahu must step down and allow a transition to a democracy."
New tagline...
Better than Operation Chrome Dome, where we had B-52s in the air 24/7.
I am concerned that Israel has too much confidence in this system. A rule of thumb for such defensive systems is that the more “layered” they are, the better.
For example, Israel could have a long time ago purchased or built some C-RAM weapons, which are the land version of the US Navy Phalanx CIWS. A single system of this type costs a mere $15m, is mounted on a large flatbed truck, and can take down a whole range of flying enemy weaponry and aircraft, at a fraction of the price of using advanced missiles to do so.
The Swiss have a multiple weapon version called Skyshield, which costs about the same, and has been tested against a whole range of lesser weapons, of the Soviet make that would be used against Israel.
The bottom line is that Iron Dome is concentrating on a quality defense against quality weapons. But Israel also need to be concerned with quantity weapons.
I can’t remember, but the system could detect Mortar rounds and burn them until they exploded. Even multiple targets!!!
The ordnance used on the Iron Dome system is a little expensive, but the system is more advanced. Because Israel’s enemies tend to use dumb rockets and mortars which are set up very hastily, many of them land in fields or in the desert. This system has the capability of determining the trajectory of incoming rockets/shells and determining if they will hit a value target. If so, it fires. If not, it doesn’t fire.
It can be loaded on a flatbed truck and is portable.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.