Rafael has upgraded Iron Dome air defense system to be used against unmanned aerial vehicles 11507153

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Defence & Security Industry News - Rafael
 
Rafael has upgraded Iron Dome air defense system to be used against unmanned aerial vehicles.
The Israeli Company Rafael has released a new video showing the Iron Dome shooting down an UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Drone). The Iron Dome was designed as air defense system against short range artillery rockets. Now Rafael has upgraded the system to response about the new threats.
     
     
The Iron Dome is an effective and innovative mobile defense solution for countering short range rockets and 155 mm artillery shell threats with ranges of up to 70 km in all weather conditions, including low clouds, rain, dust storms or fog. The system uses a unique interceptor with a special warhead that detonates any target in the air within seconds.

The Iron Dome radar detects and identifies the rocket or artillery shell launch and monitors its trajectory. Target data is transmitted to the Battle Management & Weapon Control (BMC) for processing. The threat’s trajectory is quickly analyzed and the expected impact point is estimated. If the estimated rocket trajectory poses a critical threat, a command is given within seconds and an interceptor is launched against the threat.

The Israeli Defense Ministry announced earlier this month that after running a series of experimental tests on the Iron Dome, it had succeeded in upgrading its operational capabilities in order to confront future hostilities.

In conjunction with Rafael, the new upgrades were designed "to expand and improve the performance capabilities of the system in the face of an unprecedented range of threats," according a press statement from the Israeli Defense Ministry.

Air force personnel staffing Iron Dome batteries intercepted more than 500 Gazan rockets heading to Israeli built-up areas during the war with Hamas in Gaza last year in Operation Protective Edge, successfully protecting Israel's most populated and vulnerable cities.