The Israelis, seeing a resurgence of rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel, are meeting this weekend to determine if they will deploy the "Iron Dome" rocket defense system in the communities near Gaza.
From the article at Israel National News:
In the wake of the escalation of rocket attacks originating from Gaza towards southern Israel, the IDF is considering beginning to use the Iron Dome rocket defense system in the communities around Gaza already as of Sunday.
The final decision on the matter is expected over the weekend, after the IDF assesses the situation and decides where, if at all, to place the two batteries of the system, whose purpose to provide protection against Kassam and Grad rockets fired from Gaza. Each battery can protect just one city.
The Iron Dome system is designed to intercept short-range rockets with a relatively small warhead that are launched from a distance of 4.5 to 70 kilometers. Under certain conditions it could also be effective against mortar shells.
In the present circumstances, the system would be able to protect a predetermined area with a size of 10X10 km from rockets and mortars. The system knows how to calculate the path of rockets and mortar shells and avoids shooting down those rockets that would be landing in open areas. Iron Dome is unable, however, to intercept objects that are fired from a distance of less than 4.5 km.
Now, I have to admit that I'd be a bit more in favor of the "Iron Bomb" strategy where a retaliatory force goes into Gaza and pretty much ends the possibility of Hamas EVER sending another rocket into Israel but people call me a bit extreme. But Israel's decision on this will unveil some technology that the world hasn't seen before.
I'm sure the slugs of Hezbollah will be paying close attention to Iron Dome down on that southern Israeli border because if that system works just like it is supposed, it could very well take considerable firepower out of the hands of Hezbollah in the north.
IDF Considers Deploying Iron Dome as of Sunday
In the wake of the escalation of rocket attacks originating from Gaza towards southern Israel, the IDF is considering beginning to use the Iron Dome rocket defense system in the communities around Gaza already as of Sunday.
The final decision on the matter is expected over the weekend, after the IDF assesses the situation and decides where, if at all, to place the two batteries of the system, whose purpose to provide protection against Kassam and Grad rockets fired from Gaza. Each battery can protect just one city.
The Iron Dome system is designed to intercept short-range rockets with a relatively small warhead that are launched from a distance of 4.5 to 70 kilometers. Under certain conditions it could also be effective against mortar shells.
In the present circumstances, the system would be able to protect a predetermined area with a size of 10X10 km from rockets and mortars. The system knows how to calculate the path of rockets and mortar shells and avoids shooting down those rockets that would be landing in open areas. Iron Dome is unable, however, to intercept objects that are fired from a distance of less than 4.5 km.
Last month it was reported that Iron Dome is near completion. However, it has not been defined as operational, despite having recently passed a trial run by the Air Force after previously passing tests created by its designers. If it is indeed deployed as of Sunday, it would still be in what is defined as an “experimental stage”.
Meanwhile, the rocket attacks from Gaza continued on Thursday, hitting the Israeli port city of Ashdod as well as at other Jewish communities. One Grad Katyusha missile slammed into an open area in the city.
By mid-afternoon, five rockets fired from Gaza had exploded in various parts of Israel's western Negev. A short-range Kassam rocket landed in an open field in the Eshkol Regional Council district at about 2:00 p.m. Shortly after noon, another Kassam slammed into an open area in the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council district. Close to 11:00 a.m. a rocket from northern Gaza also landed in the Eshkol Regional Council district.
1 comment:
Israel is aiming these missiles at the wrong target. These missiles should be aimed at Hamas HQ [or other suitable Gaza civilian target] so that when a Hamas missile is fired and detected, Israel doesn't waste their missiles trying to shot them down but rather inflict instant punishment.
Post a Comment