Some have questioned whether it is as effective as claimed, but Time magazine's defence expert, Mark Thompson, says the "lack of Israeli casualties suggests Iron Dome is the most effective, most tested, missile shield the world has ever seen". Israeli officials hailed Iron Dome as a "game-changer" that saves lives, describing it as "an extraordinary homemade rocket swatter". According to figures provided at the time by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), Iron Dome destroyed 426 rockets, with a successful interception rate of 84%. How successful is it?ĭuring Operation Pillar of Defence in November 2012, when Israel clashed with Hamas, 1,500 rockets were launched from Gaza at Israel. Each interception rocket costs around $95,000 (£55,000) so Iron Dome is not used against missiles heading for open ground. An interceptor can act independently even if it loses communication with the ground as it has its own sighting systems. Tamir interceptor missiles are then fired from launchers on the ground. For short-range rockets, that decision will be a split-second one. If it is determined that the rocket will hit a protected area, where there are large numbers of people or something strategically important, it will be intercepted. The radar tracks the rocket as it is fired and the software predicts the trajectory. When it detects the missile, Iron Dome's software can determine its location and type. First a radar scans an area for a ballistic motor or rocket.
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