Israel’s Iron Dome

IRON DOME

• Israel’s Iron Dome is a multi-layered missile defence system.
• It intercepted and neutralised “99 percent” of a 300-missile wave launched by Iran on April 13th.
• This action minimized the damage to Israeli territory during the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.

Ref :https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-how-israels-iron-dome-intercepts-rockets-7312743/

About Iron Dome

• The Israel’s Iron Dome is the world’s most successful air defence system.
• Its manufacturer, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, reports a success rate of 90 percent.
• Since its 2011 deployment, Israel has extensively used it in conflicts, notably against missile attacks from Gaza.
• The system can target projectiles at the source or in the air.
• It protects against a variety of aerial threats, including aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Working

• Radar Unit: Detects airborne rockets/shells and sends data to the control unit.
• Control Unit: Processes data, assesses the threat, and charts the interception path.
• Firing Unit: Launches a missile (equipped with radar and a special warhead) to destroy the incoming rocket.

THAAD USA

• The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is a missile defence system developed by the USA.
• It intercepts and destroys short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal flight phase.
• THAAD uses hit-to-kill technology, colliding directly with the incoming target using kinetic energy instead of explosive warheads.
• It defends against threats both within and outside the Earth’s atmosphere.
• A typical THAAD battery has nine launchers, which can load a total of 72 interceptor missiles.
• While THAAD’s missile range can intercept targets up to 200 km, its radar, the AN-TPY-2, can reach much further, around 1,000 km. It can also switch to a forward-based mode, extending its range to 2,000 km.

S400 Russia

• The S-400 Triumf, developed by Russia’s Almaz-Antey Corporation, is an advanced surface-to-air missile system.
• It’s renowned for its ability to target various aerial threats, including aircraft, drones, and ballistic missiles.
• It boasts extensive range detection and simultaneous engagement of multiple targets.
• Its radar systems can detect targets at ranges of up to 600 kilometers (373 miles) and engage them at distances of up to 400 kilometers (248 miles).
• Several countries, including China, India, and Turkey, have either acquired or shown interest in acquiring the S-400 system.
• India has already received three squadrons of the S-400 missile systems out of the five it ordered in 2018. Russia is set to deliver the remaining two S-400 air defence systems to India in 2026.