The Crazy Success of the Iron Dome
I am not sure if people understand just how amazingly the Iron Dome worked during the latest skirmish in the Middle East.
Only four percent of the 1,500 rockets hit population centers
The Iron Dome intercepted 87 percent of the roughly 460 rockets that it targeted.[i] (Other reports have said 84 percent—still amazing!)
It is also important to note that the Iron Dome project almost didn’t happen. General Danny Gold, the father of the project, wasn’t sure he would get funding, as many labeled the idea as crazy and unattainable, a waste of money. Consider this rebuke from the State Comptroller in 2009:
“Brig. Gen. (res.) Dr. Danny Gold went against Defense Ministry directive 20.02 when he decided in August 2005 to develop the anti-missile defense system Iron Dome, to set a timetable for this development and ordered a ‘telescopic acceleration’’ of the project…”[ii]
[To read an interview with Gen. Gold CLICK HERE]
Now the critics are praising the Iron Dome for saving the lives of God knows how many Israelis. What is even more praiseworthy is how this Missile defense system works, not only to save lives, but money.
How the Iron Dome Works (from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems)
As soon as a rocket is fired against Israel the Iron Dome not only detects it, but estimates within seconds, based on the trajectory, whether it will hit a populated area or not. If it determines that it will land in the water or in a field, it will not go after the rocket, saving Israel hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Then, also within seconds, if it decides it needs to destroy the rocket, it determines where the safest place would be to intercept it, so as not to harm Israelis on the ground.
A Tamir interceptor missile is then released and the radar seeker guides it to the missile.
Each interceptor missile costs between $40,000 and $100,000 whereas a Hamas Grad or Qassam rocket can be acquired for $1,000.[iii]
Despite the expense of the Iron Dome, it is a game changer. There is no doubt that without it many more Israelis would have died. Hamas will have to resort to new tactics, and apparently already has. While we still don’t know all the who’s and how’s concerning the bus bombing in Tel Aviv earlier this week, it is safe to assume that they resorted to this, a far more difficult task, due to frustration in the lack of success of their rocket campaign—again, 1,500 rockets. And to their dismay, not one Israeli was killed in that attack.
In the meantime, Israel secured new funding from the U.S. in the wake of the Iron Dome’s success, and now other nations like India are eyeing Israel’s technology to protect her from Pakistan. It turns out that our mini-war was a live demonstration for Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. In fact, I am sure soon, voices will arise and say that Israel started the war for that purpose… except, Israel didn’t start the war. We responded to hundreds of rockets being fired upon us.
Possibly Iran wanted to see how well Israel could defend herself. Or perhaps, with an Obama win, the terrorists felt emboldened and decided to test the U.S. President’s resolve. Iran, quite possibly wanted to see how the Muslim Brotherhood President of Egypt would react. Who knows for sure?
Whatever the motive, we now know that Israel has a powerful weapon of defense. Even still, our hope should not be in Kippat haBarzel, the Iron Dome, alone, but in the ultimate Dome of Protection who has given us great and precious promises.
This is what the Lord says, He who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord Almighty is his name:
“Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,” declares the Lord, “will Israel ever cease being a nation before me.”
This is what the Lord says: “Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done,” declares the Lord. (Jer. 31:35-37)
[i] http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-eyes-Israels-Iron-Dome-to-counter-Pak-puppets/articleshow/17329499.cms
[ii] http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=6509
[iii] http://www.thedaily.com/article/2012/11/20/112112-news-iron-dome-graphic/
