Iron Dome missile defense system to become operational within weeks
All test-runs of system prove successful, IAF believes that 13 Iron Dome systems will be required to protect Israeli civilians from short-range missiles.
By Anshel Pfeffer
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.
The operation was conducted by IAF officers and soldiers in cooperation with the Defense Ministry, who oversaw the development of the Iron Dome with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
The IAF was in possession of the first of two Iron Dome batteries for a number of months already. Owing to a series of technical problems, the announcement of the system as operational was postponed, but is now expected to take place within a number of weeks. Some parts of the second battery have already been sent to the IAF.
The IAF estimates that 13 Iron Dome systems will be required to effectively protect Israeli civilians from short-range missiles. It is not yet clear if and when the new battery will be deployed in southern Israel. The IAF currently plans on positioning the battery in the base and only deploying it upon demand. Despite that, members of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee demand the battery be positioned in the Israeli towns near the Gaza border.
In late 2010, Barack Obama's administration allocated $205 million dollars toward funding the Iron Dome.
Several months earlier, the Defense Ministry's top brass estimated the sum the Americans allotted would be sufficient for procuring eight or nine batteries, half of what is necessary to protect the Negev and the Galilee from short- and intermediate-range rockets and missiles
Iron Dome
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4048253,00.htmlThe IDF on Sunday deployed the first battery of the Iron Dome missile defense system near Beersheba, southern Israel's largest city. It is estimated that the battery will be fully operational in the afternoon.
During the preparations for the deployment of the system, which uses cameras and radar to track incoming rockets and is supposed to shoot them down within seconds of their launch, Israel conducted a test during which rockets resembling Grads were intercepted.
The security establishment said it would take some time before the system becomes fully integrated in the army's routine activity.
"Israel has been under the threat of rockets for the past 20 years – since the Gulf War," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting. "I don't want to create the illusion that the Iron Dome system will provide a comprehensive solution."
Netanyahu noted that "The Iron Dome is still being tested, and in any case we cannot deploy batteries in such a way that they would protect every home, school, base and facility.
"The true answer to the threat is a combination of offensive and deterrence measures with defense measures," and stressed that Israel "holds Hamas responsible for everything fired from the Gaza Strip," the PM said.
Earlier Sunday, the Air Force attacked terrorists who were planning to fire rockets at Israel. At least two Islamic Jihad members were killed in the strike.
During a tour of Israeli communities located near Gaza on Friday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said he approved the deployment of Iron Dome's first operational battery in the south and lauded its capabilities, while making note of its limitations.
"We must understand that alongside the fact that this is an exceptional achievement by our defense industries, unprecedented anywhere else, it ultimately does not provide 100% coverage," he said.
"This is the first battery, and every additional battery that we get will join this system," he said. "However, the full deployment would take several years and involve significant budgets."
Residents in Ashkelon reported Thursday seeing Israel's new Iron Dome defense system intercept a Grad rocket fired towards the southern city from the Gaza Strip. IDF officials called the interception a "historical moment", saying it was the first of its kind in the world.
Two intercepting missiles were fired at the rocket, but the first succeeded in hitting it, an army official said.
Eyewitnesses told Ynet they saw the rocket explode in midair and realized that the system had intercepted its first rocket.
Moshe Ben Hemo, a resident of Ashkelon, said, "I was in the street and I heard a strange sound, like someone pushing the gas pedal of a car. Then I saw the rocket fly through the air and explode. Immediately I realized that it was Iron Dome, that's what has been said here."
He added that the rocket alert had not been set off. "The rocket was apparently supposed to explode in Ashkelon. In any case I'm glad the system works," he said.
After hitting a student bus traveling through Shaar Hanegev Regional Council Thursday, critically wounding a 16-year old boy and lightly injuring the driver, terrorists in Gaza fired some 45 rockets and mortar shells at Israel. No further injuries were reported.
The IDF immediately began bombing targets in Gaza in response to the onslaught. Palestinian medics said a 50-year old man was killed in the airstrikes along with three others, and a number of other people injured, including a child.
Ashkelon's Iron Dome system was set up just Monday, with soldiers running extensive tests to make sure it was functioning properly. Another system was set up earlier in Beersheba.
The defense establishment decided to place the system earlier than planned due to the recent escalation of violence in the south. It has already been set up in Haifa, and in the coming weeks officials plan to put it in place in central Israel as well.
Hamas: Stop Israeli aggression
Despite Thursday's onslaught, Hamas called on the international community to "stop Israel's aggression in the Gaza Strip". Hamas spokesman Taher Nunu said the organization would appeal to the UN Security Council because Israel was not honoring a lull agreement in Gaza.
The terror organization claims Israel is taking advantage of regret expressed by Judge Richard Goldstone over his report on Operation Cast Lead, which accuses Israel of war crimes, in order to attack the Palestinian people.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the Palestinian fire, which included dozens of rockets and mortar shells after the attack on the bus, derives from a desire to protect the people of Gaza and "pressure the occupation to stop its crimes".
He added that the IDF was also trying to ignite violence "in order to thwart inter-Palestinian truce efforts" between Hamas and rival Fatah. He stressed that the Palestinian "will not sit by as innocent blood is shed".
Only an idiot would do that against a superior force.Well done to the Israeli forces. Looks like those terrorist scumbags are going to have to stop lobbing rockets into Israeli civilian areas and actually fight the IDF fairly for once.
Only a coward would target civilians and then claim 'Israeli aggression' when the IDF responds.Only an idiot would do that against a superior force.
Only a coward would use an aircraft to bomb a person holding an ak47.Only a coward would target civilians and then claim 'Israeli aggression' when the IDF responds.
I was also being facetious, as I very much doubt that HAMAS would fight the IDF fairly.
Every nation fights for it's survival, Israel is doing the same. Let us not try to beat them with the stick of "Morality", this is not their fault that they are militarily superior.Only a coward would use an aircraft to bomb a person holding an ak47.
this term "fighting fairly" is wank because if both parties were "fair" they wouldn't be fighting in the first place.
I am not blaming them but pointing out that neither side can take a higher moral ground.Every nation fights for it's survival, Israel is doing the same. Let us not try to beat them with the stick of "Morality", this is not their fault that they are militarily superior.
If both sides of the equation were fair, then Hamas wouldn't exist, and the two state solution would have been realized on both sides already. Sadly, that's not the case. Instead the Israelis will have to deal with rockets being lobbed by cowardly Hamas into civilian areas, and the never-tiring 'you dirty war mongering zionists' propaganda when the IDF responds.Only a coward would use an aircraft to bomb a person holding an ak47.
this term "fighting fairly" is wank because if both parties were "fair" they wouldn't be fighting in the first place.
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Se...sile-shield-makes-history/UPI-95981302544941/BEERSHEBA, Israel, April 11 (UPI) -- The initial success of the Iron Dome anti-missile system built by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in shooting down Hamas rockets fired at southern Israeli cities is a potential gamechanger against the Palestinians and probably against Hezbollah in Lebanon as well.
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Se...kes-history/UPI-95981302544941/#ixzz1JHQazWsP
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