Iron Dome is proving its worth, Israeli officials say, diverting over 200 rockets from Israeli population centers and keeping Israel’s death toll from Gaza rocket fire at zero (though some Israelis have been harmed by shrapnel and burns resulting from the rockets’ explosions, and from anxiety while under fire).
That has meant an immense advantage against the primary strategic weapon used against Israel by the likes of Palestinian terror groups and Hezbollah.
Now, even as it builds its eighth battery, Israel plans to co-produce additional Iron Domes together with the United States.
In July 11 talks with executives from Rafael, Iron Dome prime contractor, and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), producer of the system’s multimission radar, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon credited Iron Dome for its “impressive performance” and “strategic significance” in the ongoing campaign.
“First and foremost, it saves lives and grants us expanded opportunities for managing the campaign against Hamas,” Ya’alon said. “And it sends a message to countries and organizations amassing huge quantities of rockets and missiles” for terrorist purposes.
As Rafael works on the eighth battery in parallel to fast-tracked production of intercepting missiles, it is preparing to receive the first Defense Ministry procurement contract for US-based builds in support of Iron Dome.
Israeli soldiers walk by an Iron Dome missile defense system deployed near Jerusalem, September 2013. (photo credit Flash90)
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