Ship-based Iron Dome system declared operational

Israel’s Iron Dome system is declared ready for use on a Sa’ar 5-model corvette in what the military describes as a “significant milestone” in its ongoing efforts to counter the threat of ballistic missiles.

The maritime interception system, designed to protect Israel’s gas fields and shipping lanes from short-range missiles, “added another operational layer” to Israel’s multi-tiered air defenses, joining the long-range Arrow 3 system and mid-range David’s Sling, which were each made operational earlier this year, says Brig. Gen. Tzvika Haimovitch, the head of the IAF’s Aerial Defense Command.

The so-called “Iron Dome of the Sea” was a multi-year joint collaboration between the Israeli Air Force and the Israeli Navy.

“For the navy, it’s a very high-valued capability because we are trying to defend Israeli land, ships and, of course, our strategic assets,” says Col. Ziv Barak, head of the Weapons Department in the Israeli Navy, referring to Israel’s natural gas extraction platforms.

For now, the Iron Dome has only been installed on one naval ship, the Sa’ar 5-class INS Lahav. But according to Haimovitch, there are plans in the works to put the system on additional corvettes.

— Judah Ari Gross