Israel's Iron Dome A Missile Defense Success

IBD EDITORIALS ^ | November 19, 2012

[raptor22]

Security: As Hamas launches rockets toward Israeli population centers, Tel Aviv's investment in missile defense passes its acid test, destroying the vast majority. The U.S., meanwhile, is moving in just the opposite direction.

On Sunday, Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system successfully shot down two Iranian-made Fajr-5 rockets aimed at the heart of Tel-Aviv by Hamas' armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades. It was just one of many such interceptions by what is now the world's only battle-tested missile defense system.

The "Fajr" (Dawn) series are mobile-launched, unguided, solid-fuel artillery rockets developed by Iran during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war with the likely help of Russia and China. It is believed that in 2001 Iran first supplied Fajr-5 rockets to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. And now Hamas has them.

The Israeli Defense Ministry deployed an upgraded Iron Dome missile battery in the Gush Dan area in central Israel on Saturday morning. Roughly equivalent to the U.S. Patriot missile defense system, the battery is the fifth Iron Dome system operational in Israel.

In total, Palestinians fired 740 rockets toward the Jewish state in the first few days of Operation Pillar of Defense, which began last Wednesday. They ranged from the Fajr-5 to the unsophisticated Katyusha rockets, but only around 30 of those landed in built-up areas

[LeoWindhorse]

they are being forced to , it is Iran’s strategy

[uncommonsense]

The Iron Dome has an integrated detection and tracking system that creates the best intercept calculation.

The HamAss/Iranian rockets can't be controlled - they're unguided.

"The "Fajr" (Dawn) series are mobile-launched, unguided, solid-fuel artillery rockets "

[RitchieAprile]

Its Debka, FWIW..

http://www.debka.com/article/22541/Iranian-arms-ship-carries-fresh-improved-Fajar-supplies-for-Gaza

[ThunderSleeps]

I’d use the IDF to create a WIDE buffer zone between Sinai and Gaza....then ANNEX the buffer zone.

Excellent idea. Hamas is firing rockets with what, up to a 40 mile range right now? Fine, I'd push 50 miles into the Sinai. Everything between the border and the edge of the buffer zone would be under strict military/marshal law.

[ThunderSleeps]

I wish they could figure out lasers and possibly rail-guns.

Real close to a working system now. Google "raytheon laser ciws"... As I under stand it, they've ganged together COTS (welding?) lasers and mated them to the radar and targeting system of the CIWS. I thought I had read/heard somewhere they had shot down "other stuff" besides the drone, but I can't find it now.

[fso301]

I wonder why radar guided AAA can’t be employed as as first line of defense against these inexpensive dumb rockets? If the flak can’t get it, then go to the more expensive iron dome.

[Spktyr]

Look into THEL, M-THEL, the Nautilus laser project and the airborne Anti-Ballistic Missile Laser or ABL. They have figured them out and they do work.

[Portcall24]

Great answer with enough spin to sound reasonable. Of course the text stated it was the “world’s” only system. Regardless your answer was enough to get you a job in politics...just kidding. Seriously, thanks for replying.

[dforest]

Hillary is on her way to meddle and make the situation far worse.

[Eye of Unk]

Good Lord, they should find some way to get her banned from entering the country.

If I had a wish it would be to be a member of Israels armament development team, anything to become totally independent, especially since Obama is absolutely against Israel.

Its that Muslim thing of his.

[Kenny Bunk]

See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fajr-5

This weapon seems more like long range (75-mile max) artillery than it is like a medium-range (2-500 mile) missile. That is, the gizmo stays within the atmosphere the whole time. As a result, the anti-missile tracking software is different than the old Patriot.

When the wildly imprecise SCUDS were re-entering the atmosphere they broke up into hundreds of pieces ... so the Patriots were more of a psychological boost to the Israeli civvie population, just as the inaccurate SCUDS were ... unless one happened to kill you, or someone you knew ... a psychological terror weapon.

In a way, these FAJR 5s are more militarily effective than SCUDS and Iron Dome therefore has to be more militarily effective against them.

[rdb3]

Then we really need to repent of our sins (divorce, porn, adultery, loving money, ...) and pray earnestly and faithfully in Jesus’ name for a Christian revival, since only God can rescue us at this point.

Indeed. It seems that the USA has turned its back on the LORD.