Iron Dome makes great achievement, blocking 30% of Iranian missiles

According to the latest statistics, Israel's Iron Dome air defense system caused a stir when it intercepted 30% of Iran's ballistic missiles.

For three consecutive nights from June 14 to June 14, the Israeli sky was lit up with Iranian ballistic missile trails, more than 200 of which were aimed at political and military targets across the country. Photo: @ The Independent.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that its multi-layered air defense network, which uses a sophisticated combination of advanced technology, was able to intercept the majority of the threats. Among the systems deployed was the Iron Dome. Photo: @RNZ.

What many observers failed to grasp, however, was the remarkable feat the Iron Dome system accomplished: Although designed to counter short-range missiles, not ballistic missiles, the Iron Dome played a key role in neutralizing 20 to 30 percent of Iran's ballistic missile salvos. Photo: @ Middle East Eye.

This surprising success stems from years of development and technological upgrades, but it also highlights a major misunderstanding about the capabilities of the Iron Dome system, and its place in Israel's defense structure. Photo: @ The Hollywood Reporter.

Iron Dome was first deployed in 2011, born out of the need to protect Israeli communities from the constant rocket attacks of Hamas and Hezbollah. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with significant financial backing from the United States, the system is designed to intercept unguided rockets with ranges of 4 to 70 kilometers, such as the Qassam and Grad variants that are often fired from Gaza. Photo: @Wikipedia.

Its core components include the EL/M-2084 radar built by Israel Aerospace Industries, which detects and tracks incoming threats; a combat management and control unit that calculates trajectories and prioritizes targets; and the extremely fast, agile Tamir interceptor missile designed to detonate near the target, destroying it with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead. Photo: @ Britannica.

Since its launch, Iron Dome has achieved a reported success rate of over 90 percent against thousands of missiles, saving countless lives and cementing its reputation as a technological marvel for Israel's defense. Photo: @ Breaking Defense.

However, the system’s early successes created a public misconception that persists to this day. Many people believe that Iron Dome is a one-stop solution for all airborne threats. In fact, the system was never intended to defend against ballistic missiles. Photo: @ Axios.

Unlike the low-flying, relatively slow missiles fired by militant groups, ballistic missiles like Iran’s Shahab-3 or Zolfaghar travel at hypersonic speeds, often exceeding Mach 5, and on high-intensity trajectories that can reach altitudes beyond the atmosphere. Their ranges extend hundreds or even thousands of kilometers, and their ability to carry heavy or maneuverable warheads makes them a threat far beyond the Iron Dome’s original design range. To address these issues, Israel relies on other systems like the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and Boeing. Together, they form a layered defense network, each tailored to a specific threat profile. Photo: @Missilery.

Over the past decade, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and its partners have quietly improved Iron Dome, expanding the system’s capabilities through a series of upgrades that reflect Israel’s anticipation of evolving threats in the region. The EL/M-2084 radar, which is an advanced active electronically scanned array, has been enhanced with software enhancements that allow for faster detection and tracking of high-speed targets. Photo: @CNN.

These upgrades allow the radar to distinguish between predictable missile arcs and the more complex trajectories of tactical ballistic missiles, such as those with ranges of up to 300 kilometers. The Tamir interceptor has also evolved, with modifications to its propulsion and guidance systems that increase its maneuverability and allow it to attack its target in its terminal phase, just before impact. These changes, while not turning Iron Dome into a dedicated anti-ballistic missile system, do give it significant capabilities against some ballistic threats, especially those with lower speeds or less sophisticated trajectories. Photo: @AP.

Perhaps the most important step forward is the integration of Iron Dome into Israel’s broader air defense network. No longer operating in isolation, the system shares real-time data with the Arrow, David’s Sling, and even US Navy systems equipped with SM-3 interceptors. This networked approach is supported by advanced command and control systems that allow for seamless coordination, ensuring that each threat is assigned to the most appropriate interceptor. Photo: @CNN.

The first night of Iran’s retaliatory strike provided a real-world test of these Iron Dome advances. As rockets launched from Iranian territory hurtled toward Israel, the IDF’s air defense command faced an unprecedented challenge. The attack included a mix of Shahab-3 missiles, which have a range of up to 2,000 kilometers, and shorter-range Zolfaghar variants, which are capable of precision strikes. The IDF reported that the layered defense network intercepted between 80 and 90 percent of the rockets aimed at populated or strategic areas, a figure confirmed by independent analysts. Photo: @C4ISRNet.

What stands out, however, is the contribution of Iron Dome. Although its primary role is to intercept short-range rockets, the system successfully neutralized 20 to 30 percent of ballistic missiles that entered Israeli airspace, especially those aimed at urban centers like Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Rishon LeZion. This performance, while not great, is a testament to the system’s adaptability, as it works in tandem with Arrow and David’s Sling to minimize damage and casualties. Photo: @Vox.

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