A third Iron Dome air defense system is deployed by Israeli Army near the city of Ashdod 0209111

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Defense News - Israel

 
 

Friday, September 2, 2011, 08:59 AM

 

A third Iron Dome air defense system is deployed by Israeli Army near the city of Ashdod.

A third Iron Dome battery was stationed near the city of Ashdod on Wednesday (August 31), protecting its 200,000 residents from rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. The battery was deployed sooner than planned, thanks to the work of Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, Aerial Defense Network soldiers, Defense Ministry personnel and other security officials.
     

A third Iron Dome battery was stationed near the city of Ashdod on Wednesday (August 31), protecting its 200,000 residents from rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. The battery was deployed sooner than planned, thanks to the work of Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, Aerial Defense Network soldiers, Defense Ministry personnel and other security officials.
Israeli Iron Dome is a mobile air defense system in development by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells.

     

Two other batteries are already protecting the cities of Ashkelon and Be'er Sheva.

"I want to thank everyone who took on the challenge and successfully stationed a third operational Iron Dome battery, before the school year commenced," said Defense Minister Ehud Barak. "This is part of the national emergency plan I announced several weeks ago and a concrete expression of defending Israel's civilians from rockets and missiles."

Earlier this week, Barak said that by the end of this year a fourth battery will be deployed and a total of nine will be operational within the next two years.

Barak said tha the Iron Dome batteries will "revamp the security of Israeli residents".