With something that looks like it came straight out of the video game Call of Duty, the Iron Dome/ Weapon Defense system looks spectacular. It is built to detect and take down threats from enemies. The system was built and developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries. Boasting a proven track record, the defense system has caught the eye many countries, including the U.S army who’s set to buy the Iron Dome Weapon System this year.

It is part of Israel’s defense system, and has some powerful capabilities. Since its inception     in 2011, it is the most used missile defense system. It has a success rate of over 90 percent and protects populated regions in Israel. That’s why it was developed in the first place, and has intercepted or stopped more than 1,500 targets.What makes the system more so unique is that the cost is affordable for the U.S. and can work in any weather conditions.

In 2014 , Raytheon came into the picture. “Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission system integration, and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; as well as a broad range of mission support services.” That is a statement straight from their website and they started providing sub components to the Tamir missile five years ago. “Tamir missiles feature electro-optical sensors and steering fins with proximity fuze blast warheads.”

It is capable of intercepting threats that are 43 miles out. It can work day and night, along with being functional in rain, fog and dust storms. “Ten Iron Dome batteries protect Israel, and each battery includes three to four stationary launchers with 20 Tamir missiles and a battlefield radar.” The U.S. version of the Iron Dome is called the “SkyHunter missile”. The average unit cost is $50 million per battery and $40,000 per missile

The purpose of the system was to protect Israel from Lebanon whom which fired rockets in densely populated areas in the 1990’s. Fast forward to 2019, it is considered one of the best defense weapons in the multi layered defense of Israel. It’s only a matter of time that this system will be implemented in many other countries. Ones military could never be too large or not have enough devices so it would appear that the U.S. According to the Defensenews.com, “the U.S. is still assessing a variety of other options but the U.S has been examining acquisition of several batteries of the Iron Dome since mid-2018 to fill the Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment two needs. Initial reports indicated the U.S. would spend 373 million to purchase two Iron Dome batteries.” All of Israel’s missile defense were developed with U.S. support.