Israeli Army Declares Maritime Iron Dome Operational

Haaretz ^ | Nov 27, 2017 | Yaniv Kubovich

[sukhoi-30mki]

The military has announced a new capacity to protect Israel’s natural-gas drilling platforms following a successful test Monday of the Iron Dome anti-rocket system installed on a missile ship. The Israel Defense Forces tested Iron Dome’s ability to protect the country’s drilling platforms in the Mediterranean Sea.

The system, constructed on the missile ship’s helicopter pad, operates in tandem with the identification systems of the navy and air force. The testing began more than a year ago as a joint project of the navy, air force and defense contractors.

During the test, an Iron Dome battery was installed on the INS Lahav, a Sa’ar 5-class corvette. Various scenarios were tested, such as the firing of Grad rockets at gas-drilling platforms.

The air force team, working with the navy team, destroyed all rockets heading toward the simulated targets, leading to the conclusion that the system was ready for operations.

“We proved here an ability to coordinate between the naval radar and the Iron Dome system, and that’s a very significant accomplishment for us,” said Rear Admiral Dror Friedman.

“We got a really good result, and this test leads us to declare that we have an operational system.”

Troops in the air force’s air defense unit, who haven been trained with the navy teams, will be the people operating the system.

read more: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.825327

[sukhoi-30mki]

A test of a ship-mounted Iron Dome battery.

Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit

read more: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.825327

[jimtorr]

Next step, I suppose, is to put the launchers on the platforms.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

It would have to be a very well built installation. Not sure I’d want rocket launchers on a natural gas drilling platform.