The effectiveness of the Iron Dome air defense system during massive shelling
Combat work of the Iron Dome during Operation Guardian of the Walls, 2021. Photo by the Israeli Ministry of Defense
Over the past month, Israel's national missile defense system has been undergoing its most severe and lengthy test of combat capability in real-world conditions. Most of the work to detect and destroy enemy missiles is now performed by the short-range anti-aircraft complex “Kipat Barzel” / “Iron Dome”. Due to a number of objective factors, now his work can only be called satisfactory.
Strikes and defense
Let us remind you that Palestinian armed forces launched a massive attack on Israeli territory on the morning of October 7. The first major shelling was perhaps the most massive in stories conflicts in the region. After this, the attacking side continued launches, but with less intensity.
Following the first attack, representatives of the Hamas movement reported that 5,5 thousand rockets were used in it. The command of the Israeli army gave a more modest estimate - about 2,2 thousand products. However, the shelling continues, and to date the Israeli side has counted more than 8 thousand rockets.
Detailed and accurate information on the results of the Palestinian strikes is not yet available. It is known that a significant proportion of missiles, due to poor manufacturing quality, did not hit cities or military targets. The IDF’s missile defense system, represented by several types of anti-aircraft systems, was also allegedly able to intercept a significant share.
The use of virtually all available missile defense equipment has been reported. The main burden fell on the most widespread and widespread anti-missile air defense systems “Kipat Barzel”, located in almost all potentially dangerous areas. Also appeared news about the first successful use of a laser missile defense system, but it soon became clear that this information was not true.
Palestinian rockets in the air. Photo Telegram / "Military Chronicle"
The active work and certain successes of the Israeli missile defense system are confirmed by eyewitness accounts and numerous video materials from interception zones. However, it was not possible to hit all flying targets. According to various estimates, at least several dozen Palestinian rockets successfully reached their targets or were shot down, fell and caused damage on the ground.
For obvious reasons, Israel is in no hurry to disclose full statistics on missed and intercepted targets. Hamas, in turn, is unable to objectively assess the results of its strikes. However, this does not prevent both sides from reporting successes and solving the assigned tasks.
Remedy
Israel's main missile defense system is the Iron Dome short-range air defense system. This is the most numerous complex of the national missile defense system, it covers the largest area, and is also responsible for the defense of the most difficult areas. In addition, it is this air defense system that receives the main glory in the context of the fight against ballistic targets.
The Kipat Barzel was initially developed by the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and then the American Raytheon was involved in the creation of the interceptor missile. The main work was completed in the XNUMXs, and at the beginning of the XNUMXs the air defense system was ready for adoption.
The first Kupol battery went on combat duty at the end of March 2011. Just a few days later, the first episode of combat use was reported - the air defense system successfully shot down a Palestinian unguided missile. Over the next few years, nine more batteries were deployed, covering all areas of Israel threatened by unguided short-range missiles. The possibility of forming new similar formations, placing air defense systems on ships, etc. was discussed.
Interception of targets with Tamir anti-missile missiles. Photo Telegram / "Sith Corner"
According to the disclosed data, each battery of the Kipat Barzel air defense system includes its own search radar with an AFAR type ELM-2084 with a detection range of large targets of up to 400-470 km. There is a combat control center that processes data on the air situation. The battery includes three or four transportable launchers with 20 interceptor missiles each. With the help of trucks, all the assets of the complex can move between positions, but deployment and preparation for departure take considerable time.
The Tamir anti-aircraft guided missile is directly responsible for combating ballistic targets. This product is 3 m long, weighs 90 kg, has a maximum flight speed of 700 m/s and a range of up to 17 km. Guidance - by commands from the ground or using your own radar seeker. The missile carries an 11-kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead with a proximity fuse.
The developer and operator claim that the Iron Dome air defense system uses the selective principle of hitting targets. During combat operations, the radar and control center of the complex calculate which of the detected targets threaten populated areas or other objects. Anti-missile missiles are launched at them, while others are allowed to fall in a safe place. It is assumed that this approach reduces ammunition consumption, increases the operating time before reloading the launcher, and also reduces the cost of duty and combat use.
Objective difficulties
According to known data, the Kipat Barzel and other missile defense systems of the Israeli army intercepted a large number of ballistic targets on October 7, but several dozen missiles still fell in urban areas. The reasons for this are generally clear. Despite all their advantages, the missile defense systems available to the IDF have objective disadvantages and limitations.
The main reason for the limited success of the Domes a month ago should be considered the discrepancy between the ammunition load and the scale of that attack. It is easy to calculate that 10 deployed batteries, when fully equipped, can include up to 30-40 launchers with 600-800 interceptor missiles. To increase the likelihood of hitting a target, missiles should be launched in pairs. Accordingly, the Kipat Barzel complexes in that situation, even in theory, could shoot down no more than 400-800 missiles, and this is the maximum estimate.
The fall of a Tamir missile on Israeli territory. Photo Telegram / "Vestnik Air Defense"
According to Hamas, during the first strike alone, approx. 5,5 thousand missiles. The ready-made ammunition of the Iron Domes would only be enough for 10-14 percent. from this number of threats. There is no information on the proportion of missiles that flew towards populated areas and posed a threat. At the same time, it could seriously complement the existing picture - these data will show what part of the real threats the missile defense system was able to neutralize.
However, judging by the missiles falling in the cities, the air defense systems really were unable to completely repel the attack. First of all, due to the oversaturation of missile defense. The enemy launched too many missiles for Israeli systems to intercept at least the part of them that was flying towards the cities.
In this context, attention should be paid to the events of the following days and weeks. Palestinian militias continue to fire rockets at Israel, but the intensity of shelling has decreased to dozens of shells per day. The Iron Dome can cope with such attacks - it has enough speed and ammunition.
With all this, there is reason to talk about some imperfection of the “Dome”. There are known amateur videos showing the flight of Tamirs along a strange trajectory and subsequent fall to the ground. The prerequisites for such incidents are unknown, but the negative consequences are obvious - the interceptor missile not only did not interfere with the enemy projectile, but also did part of the work for it.
The massive use of “Kipat Barzel” against a major attack had negative financial consequences. Initially, one Tamir missile cost about 50-70 thousand US dollars. Reportedly, to date, mass production has allowed the price to increase to 40 thousand. However, even with such a reduction in prices, the cost of “volleys” on the scale of October 7 turns out to be excessive. At the same time, the possible volumes of compensation, construction, etc. should be taken into account. if the enemy missiles had not been shot down.
Anti-missile takeoff. Photo by Rafael
Predictable outcome
Thus, during the next combat use, the Israeli Kipat Barzel missile defense system did not perform in the best way. He was able to intercept a mass of enemy missiles, but missed some of these targets, which led to casualties and destruction on the ground. The presence of other specialized air defense systems generally did not improve the overall results, mainly due to the peculiarities of defense echeloning.
The main reason for the very limited successes and noticeable failures was the competent organization of the attack by Palestinian forces. They took into account the features of the IDF missile defense system and were able to provide a massive strike. Due to the number of missiles launched, it was possible to compensate for possible misses and create an excessive load on defense systems.
It should be noted that in recent years, one of the main topics of discussion in the context of Israeli missile defense systems has been their ability to repel massive attacks. As practice has shown, the built national missile defense system is capable of coping with tens and hundreds of home-made missiles. However, more intense shelling can penetrate such defenses and cause damage.
How Israel will react to recent events and begin to develop its missile defense system is still unknown. Perhaps he will deploy new air defense missile batteries, modernize systems, or develop completely new defense systems. Time will tell how successful these projects will be and what results they will achieve.
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