# The Iron Dome (DD-606)

> Iron Dome is a mobile short-range air defense system built by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with Israel Aerospace Industries. According to Wikipedia, it is designed to intercept rockets and artillery shells fired from about 4 to 70 km away. A battery has three parts. The EL/M-2084 radar, built by Elta, detects a launch and tracks its path. A battle-management center, built by mPrest, predicts where the rocket will land and fires only at those headed for populated or protected areas. Three or four launchers each hold 20 Tamir interceptors, which carry electro-optic sensors and steering fins. Rafael says the Tamir has a special warhead that detonates the target's warhead in the air. In a 2015 drone test, some targets were destroyed by the proximity warhead and others by a direct hit. Iron Dome was declared operational near Beersheba on March 27, 2011, and made its first interception on April 7, 2011. The United States contributed $1.6 billion from 2011 to 2021 and approved another $1 billion in 2022. Success rates are disputed. Rafael says more than 90%. Israeli military figures reviewed by Michael Armstrong (2018) were about 85% in 2012 and about 90% in 2014. Those rates count only rockets the system chose to engage. Critics, including MIT's Theodore Postol and Richard Lloyd, argued from video and damage analysis that far fewer warheads were destroyed. Armstrong reports that proponents dispute those methods. Rafael has also offered a naval version, C-Dome, unveiled in 2014.

- Department: Military (also Tech)
- First published: 2025-07-01
- Last updated: 2025-07-01
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/the-iron-dome/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## Status as of Oct. 18, 2026

In service with Israel's military. On June 30, 2026, Israel's Ministry of Defense and Rafael said they had completed a test series of upgrades, including joint operation with the Iron Beam laser through Iron Dome's battle-management center. In October 2026, Israel received the first Tamir interceptors fully produced in the US, at the Raytheon-Rafael (R2S) plant in East Camden, Arkansas.

## On the timeline

- **March 27, 2011**: Iron Dome is declared operational near Beersheba
- **April 7, 2011**: Iron Dome makes its first interception
- **June 30, 2026**: Israel's defense ministry and Rafael complete Iron Dome upgrade tests, including joint use with Iron Beam
- **October 2026**: Israel receives the first Tamir interceptors fully produced in the US (East Camden, Arkansas)

Full timeline: https://detailenjoyer.com/timeline/?case=the-iron-dome

## Quick facts

- **DD-606-F01**: Iron Dome was declared operational on March 27, 2011. _(Write-up · Exhibit C (Since 2011))_
- **DD-606-F02**: Iron Dome only fires at rockets predicted to hit protected areas. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Choosy by design))_

## Write-up

Only the rockets that matter. Its radar predicts where each rocket will land and lets ones headed for open ground fall.

1. **Three parts**: An Elta radar, an mPrest battle-management center, and launchers holding 20 Tamir interceptors each.
2. **Choosy by design**: It predicts impact points and engages only rockets headed for protected areas.
3. **Since 2011**: It was declared operational on March 27, 2011, and made its first interception on April 7, 2011.
4. **Disputed numbers**: Official rates of about 85-90% count engaged rockets only. Critics such as Postol argued for far lower rates, and proponents dispute their methods.
5. **Status**: In 2026 Israel tested upgrades with the Iron Beam laser and received the first fully US-made Tamirs.

## Related case files

- [Iranian Missile Cities (DD-733)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/iranian-missile-cities/): Another case on missiles in the region
- [Sending EMALS (DD-025)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/sending-emals/): Another military-technology case
- [SAMs (DD-152)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/sams/): I linked another air-defense system

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: 'A hit-to-kill approach': Rafael says the Tamir carries a special warhead that detonates the target's warhead in the air. In a 2015 drone test, some targets were destroyed by the proximity warhead and some by a direct hit.
- **Note**: 'Achieving a 90% success rate': this is an official figure (Rafael says more than 90%) and counts only rockets the system chose to engage. Critics including Theodore Postol and Richard Lloyd argued for much lower rates, and proponents dispute their methods (Armstrong 2018).
- **Note**: 'Developed by Israel's Rafael': Rafael leads the program with Israel Aerospace Industries. The radar is built by IAI's Elta and the battle-management center by mPrest.
- **Note**: 'Short-range rockets and artillery shells': according to Wikipedia, the range is about 4–70 km, and later upgrades target drones and cruise missiles too (Israel MOD, 2026).
- **Missing**: the US contributed $1.6 billion from 2011 to 2021 and approved another $1 billion in 2022. Since October 2026, complete Tamirs are also produced in East Camden, Arkansas.

## Video: The Iron Dome: Only the Rockets That Matter

- Duration: 22.6 s · Published: 2025-07-01
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/DLjYTSfMedR.mp4

### Transcript

DID YOU KNOW? The Iron Dome developed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, is a mobile air defense system designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells. Operational since 2011, it uses radar to detect incoming threats, tracking trajectories in real time. Tamir interceptors guided by electro-optical sensors, neutralize targets midair with a hit-to-kill approach, achieving a 90% success rate. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: Which company leads Iron Dome development?**  
A: With Israel Aerospace Industries. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Three parts) · Wikipedia: Iron Dome)_

**Q: When was Iron Dome declared operational?**  
A: Near Beersheba, on March 27, 2011. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Three parts) · Wikipedia: Iron Dome)_

**Q: Which incoming rockets does Iron Dome engage?**  
A: The battle-management center predicts impact points. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Choosy by design) · Rafael Advanced Defense Systems: Iron Dome; Wikipedia: Iron Dome)_

**Q: What is Iron Dome's interceptor missile called?**  
A: From the Hebrew for 'interceptor missile'. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Three parts) · Wikipedia: Iron Dome)_

**Q: Which critic argued Iron Dome's success rate was far lower than claimed?**  
A: In the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 2014. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Choosy by design) · Rafael Advanced Defense Systems: Iron Dome; Wikipedia: Iron Dome)_

## Sources

- [Rafael Advanced Defense Systems: Iron Dome](https://www.rafael.co.il/system/iron-dome/)
- [Wikipedia: Iron Dome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Dome)
- [Armstrong (2018), The Effectiveness of Rocket Attacks and Defenses in Israel, Journal of Global Security Studies](https://doi.org/10.1093/jogss/ogx028)
- [Postol (2014), The evidence that shows Iron Dome is not working, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists](https://thebulletin.org/2014/07/the-evidence-that-shows-iron-dome-is-not-working/)
- [Israel Ministry of Defense: Iron Dome receives additional upgrade (June 30, 2026)](https://mod.gov.il/en/press-releases/press-room/iron-dome-receives-additional-upgrade-israel-mod-and-rafael-successfully-complete-comprehensive-test-series)
- [Israel Ministry of Defense: First Iron Dome Tamir interceptor fully produced in the U.S. delivered to Israel](https://mod.gov.il/en/press-releases/press-room/first-iron-dome-tamir-interceptor-fully-produced-in-the-us-delivered-to-israel)
- [RTX: R2S delivers first U.S. produced Tamir interceptors (October 9, 2026)](https://www.rtx.com/news/news-center/2026/10/09/r2s-delivers-first-us-produced-tamir-interceptors)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "The Iron Dome." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-606, last updated Jul 1, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/the-iron-dome/