Topics Covered: Science and Technology- developments and their applications.
How Israel’s Iron Dome intercepts rockets?
Context:
In the conflict between Israel and Palestine, both sides have taken to air strikes and rocket attacks.
- Recently, rockets fired from Gaza were intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome air defence system. It appeared that the rockets were hitting an invisible shield.
What is Iron Dome?
- Deployed in 2011, it is a short-range, ground-to-air, air defence system that includes a radar and Tamir interceptor missiles that track and neutralise any rockets or missiles aimed at Israeli targets.
- It is used for countering rockets, artillery & mortars (C-RAM) as well as aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.
- Its success rate is over 90%.
How does it work, and what makes it so effective?
- The Iron Dome has three main systems that work together to provide a shield over the area where it is deployed, handling multiple threats.
- It has a detection and tracking radar to spot any incoming threats, a battle management and weapon control system (BMC), and a missile firing unit.
- It is capable of being used in all weather conditions, including during the day and night.
What kind of systems does India have?
- India has got S-400, which caters to the three threats (rockets, missiles and cruise missiles). But they have much longer range. S400 has to cater to shooting down missiles, aircraft in some 300 to 400 km range.
- At the moment, India has Akash short-range surface-to-air missiles, and Russian systems including Pechora.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- About Iron dome and its working.
- India’s Akash missile system.
- About Pechora.
- Where is Gaza strip.
Sources: Indian Express.
