Posted on Mar 17, 2021
Upgraded Iron Dome Defeats Drones & Rockets In Test
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TEL AVIV: The Israeli Iron Dome tested out its latest upgrades in recent tests, taking out every target in a mixed swarm of drones and rockets.
The new upgrades will be rapidly installed on existing Israeli units at the border and on two Iron Dome batteries sold to the US Army.
The threat scenarios, with multiple simultaneous targets of different types coming in at once, were modeled on the latest Israeli military intelligence. Besides the mix of rockets and drones – specifically Qinetiq Banshees – there were also salvos of multiple simultaneously inbound rockets. “Israel is closely following the new products of the Iranian military industry and according to that takes the needed steps,” a source told Breaking Defense.
The updated threat assessment is based mostly on the use of drones and advanced rockets recent months by the Houthi rebels in Yemen against targets in Saudi Arabia. In September 2019, a mix of different types of drones and missiles struck Saudi Aramco state-owned oil facilities, bypassing Patriot missile defenses.
So alarming are the frequent Houthi missile attacks on Saudi targets, and the potential for such attacks on UAE, led both Arab nations to seriously consider buying the Israeli-made Iron Dome. Now that the US has withdrawn its Patriot batteries from Saudi Arabia, some observers argue the pressure to buy Iron Dome will only grow.
The recent test of the Upgraded Iron Dome took place, as usual, in southern Israel, whose desert expanses provide a useful proving ground. Participating were Israeli Air Force personnel, since the Air Force runs missile defense in Israel. But the new version of the Iron Dome will be delivered to the Israeli Navy as well – and potentially to foreign buyers.
“Rafael and the IMDO [Israel Missile Defense Organization] have been continuously upgrading Iron Dome’s capabilities over the last decade, constantly improving its technological and operational performance,” said Brig. Gen. (Res.) Pini Yungman, head of Rafael’s Air and Missile Defense Division. “The capabilities that were demonstrated in this last test will ensure additional protection to the State of Israel.”
The new upgrades will be rapidly installed on existing Israeli units at the border and on two Iron Dome batteries sold to the US Army.
The threat scenarios, with multiple simultaneous targets of different types coming in at once, were modeled on the latest Israeli military intelligence. Besides the mix of rockets and drones – specifically Qinetiq Banshees – there were also salvos of multiple simultaneously inbound rockets. “Israel is closely following the new products of the Iranian military industry and according to that takes the needed steps,” a source told Breaking Defense.
The updated threat assessment is based mostly on the use of drones and advanced rockets recent months by the Houthi rebels in Yemen against targets in Saudi Arabia. In September 2019, a mix of different types of drones and missiles struck Saudi Aramco state-owned oil facilities, bypassing Patriot missile defenses.
So alarming are the frequent Houthi missile attacks on Saudi targets, and the potential for such attacks on UAE, led both Arab nations to seriously consider buying the Israeli-made Iron Dome. Now that the US has withdrawn its Patriot batteries from Saudi Arabia, some observers argue the pressure to buy Iron Dome will only grow.
The recent test of the Upgraded Iron Dome took place, as usual, in southern Israel, whose desert expanses provide a useful proving ground. Participating were Israeli Air Force personnel, since the Air Force runs missile defense in Israel. But the new version of the Iron Dome will be delivered to the Israeli Navy as well – and potentially to foreign buyers.
“Rafael and the IMDO [Israel Missile Defense Organization] have been continuously upgrading Iron Dome’s capabilities over the last decade, constantly improving its technological and operational performance,” said Brig. Gen. (Res.) Pini Yungman, head of Rafael’s Air and Missile Defense Division. “The capabilities that were demonstrated in this last test will ensure additional protection to the State of Israel.”
Upgraded Iron Dome Defeats Drones & Rockets In Test
Posted from breakingdefense.com
Defense
Israel
Drones
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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Sadly, Israel's success in defending itself will be the genesis of its defeat. Their perceived invincibility erodes sympathy for their plight. Even many American Jews perceive them as aggressors. This attitude helps me understand how many Jews marched servilely to the Nazi death camps...
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SFC Casey O'Mally
I don't think anyone views them as invincible.
They have EXCELLENT defenses against their immediate neighbors (and terrorists from the PLA, Hamas, etc.), all of which have a significantly lower level of technology.
However if Iran were to make a REAL go of it - full scale all-out war - OR Syria were to do so with the full backing of Russia, Israel would be in a world of hurt. At least for the first couple days until the US stepped in.
Now, Syria is not going to go full bore, because Russia won't back them. They may do some tests and skirmishes here and there, with or without Russian backing. But Russia know that if they fully back and all-out war by Syria, the US WILL step in and we will have a full scale proxy war which will VERY quickly escalate to an actual war once they bomb our troops and we bomb theirs. Russia does not want to get involved in a full scale war with the US over Israel. If they are going to go full scale, they will do it directly with first strike (or at least an attempt to do first strike).
Iran, on the other hand could conceivably engage in full scale war with Israel. I am not saying Iran would win, necessarily, but if they lose, Israel will CERTAINLY "feel the pain."
At least, that's how I see it.
They have EXCELLENT defenses against their immediate neighbors (and terrorists from the PLA, Hamas, etc.), all of which have a significantly lower level of technology.
However if Iran were to make a REAL go of it - full scale all-out war - OR Syria were to do so with the full backing of Russia, Israel would be in a world of hurt. At least for the first couple days until the US stepped in.
Now, Syria is not going to go full bore, because Russia won't back them. They may do some tests and skirmishes here and there, with or without Russian backing. But Russia know that if they fully back and all-out war by Syria, the US WILL step in and we will have a full scale proxy war which will VERY quickly escalate to an actual war once they bomb our troops and we bomb theirs. Russia does not want to get involved in a full scale war with the US over Israel. If they are going to go full scale, they will do it directly with first strike (or at least an attempt to do first strike).
Iran, on the other hand could conceivably engage in full scale war with Israel. I am not saying Iran would win, necessarily, but if they lose, Israel will CERTAINLY "feel the pain."
At least, that's how I see it.
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CPT Jack Durish
SFC Casey O'Mally - I've said this elsewhere, but in case you missed it... I was in Vietnam in 1967-68 and watched the threat buildup against Israel in the pages of Stars and Stripes. Most expected Israel to take a shellacking when they saw the combined numbers of Arab armies assembling for the attack. I had a different view and was laughed at when I voiced it. I regret not putting my money where my mouth was. I could have gotten great odds and cleaned up betting on the Israelis. Indeed, had I bet that they would prevail in a matter of days, I could have gotten even better odds. I don't see how much has changed. Even if Iran has "The Bomb", they still have to deliver it
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