Born of necessity: The Iron Dome Weapon System extends its reach

摘要

The Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), a division of the Directorate of Defense Research and Development within the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD), on 16 March announced that, in association with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the Israeli Navy, and the Israeli Air Force, it had completed a flight test and intercept campaign with what it described as an "upgraded version" of the Iron Dome Weapon System. Without disclosing specifics of what the upgrade represents in terms of performance and capability, the IMOD described the tests, as "a significant milestone in the development of Iron Dome", noting that they simulated "advanced threats" that the system might confront on land or sea. While the milestone remains unstipulated, the tests nevertheless underscore the key discriminator in Iron Dome's success. Underpinned by a development philosophy of enduring upgrades to address a range of emergent complex air threats, in the 10 years since it first entered operational service, the system has quietly evolved beyond its original remit.