Rafael Advanced Defense Systems releases clip of the Iron Dome shooting down an unmanned aerial vehicle, a task that the platform had not previously been employed to carry out.
By JPOST.COM STAFFIn first, Iron Dome shoots down drone
The Israeli company which produces the Iron Dome rocket defense system has released a new video documenting yet another enemy implement which the platform can help guard against.Rafael Advanced Defense Systems released a clip of the Iron Dome shooting down an unmanned aerial vehicle, a task that the platform had not previously been employed to carry out.The Defense Ministry announced earlier this month that after running a series of experimental tests on the Iron Dome, it had succeeded in upgrading its operational capabilities in order to confront future hostilities.In conjunction with Rafael, the new upgrades were designed "to expand and improve the performance capabilities of the system in the face of an unprecedented range of threats," a press statement from the Defense Ministry read.The Iron Dome was originally designed to defend against rockets at a range of 4-70 km, but the IDF has continually improved the platform's capability since its deployment in 2011.Each battery consists of a mini multi-mission radar manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries and three launchers, each equipped with 20 interceptors called Tamirs.The radar enables Iron Dome operators to predict the impact site of the enemy rocket and decide not to intercept it if it is slated to hit an open area. Each interceptor costs between $50,000-100,000 and usually two are fired at rockets slated for interception.Air force personnel staffing Iron Dome batteries intercepted more than 500 Gazan rockets heading to Israeli built-up areas during the war with Hamas in Gaza last year in Operation Protective Edge, successfully protecting Israel's most populated and vulnerable cities.Yaakov Lappin contributed to this report.