CNN
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Iran retaliated against Israel following Israel’s attacks on Iran’s military and nuclear targets on Friday morning local time. As tensions rise in the Middle East, Israel will once again turn to its large-scale air defense system, including the iron dome, David’s slings and arrow systems, to protect its citizens.
Missile defense systems are one of the most important tools in Israel’s arsenal, and have saved countless civilian lives in various conflicts over the past decade, analysts say.
Development of Iron Dome was first launched in 2007. After testing in 2008 and 2009, the first iron dome battery was deployed in 2011. The system has since been upgraded several times.
The iron dome is designed to shoot down incoming projectiles. It is equipped with radars to detect rockets, and then uses a command and control system that quickly calculates whether an incoming projectile poses a threat or could hit an unstoppable area. If a rocket poses a threat, the iron dome launches missiles from the ground and destroys them in the air.
For those on the ground, direct interception sounds like a loud cry, and sometimes you can feel it from the ground.
According to Raytheon and the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Israel has 10 iron dome batteries, each containing 3-4 launchers. The system is very transportable and requires only a few hours to set up. Additionally, the missile interceptor itself is very maneuverable. They are 3 meters (nearly 10 feet), and are long. Approximately 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter; Security Analysis Group IHS Jane said in 2012.
The warhead is believed to carry 11 kilograms of high explosives, Ihs Jane said. Its ranges from 4 km to 70 km (2.5 to 43 miles).
During the war, the cost of operating iron domes can rise rapidly. Each missile costs around $40,000, which adds up thousands of incoming rockets.
The US government has spent more than $2.9 billion on the Iron Dome program, according to Congressional Research Services.