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Iron Dome: The incredible invisible wall that protects Israel from thousands of missiles and revolutionizes global defense

Written by Carla Teles de Lima
Published 18/01/2025 às 17:12
Iron Dome: The incredible invisible wall that protects Israel from thousands of missiles and revolutionizes global defense
The Iron Dome is Israel's invisible shield, capable of destroying missiles in mid-air before they can cause destruction. It acts in seconds to protect millions of people from deadly attacks.

With a 90% intercept rate and capable of neutralizing missiles in seconds, the Iron Dome is the powerful technological barrier that prevents Israel from being devastated by massive attacks, facing challenges such as firing 5.000 rockets in just 20 minutes.

Imagine living in a place where, at any moment, a missile could fall from the sky. It sounds like a scene from a movie, but for many Israelis this is reality. To deal with this, Israel developed the Iron Dome, an air defense system that is a true technological masterpiece. But how does it work? Is it really infallible?

The Origin of the Iron Dome

The Iron Dome was born out of necessity. Since the 2000s, groups like Hamas have been launching missiles at Israeli cities, exposing the population to constant risk. Between 2000 and 2008, around 8.000 projectiles hit Israeli territory. It was in this context that General Daniel Gold proposed the system. Despite initial skepticism, the project went ahead with support from the Ministry of Defense and companies like Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. In 2011, the Iron Dome became operational.

How does the Iron Dome work?

The Iron Dome is a system that prevents missiles from reaching Israel by blowing them up in the sky. It works quickly and saves many lives every day.
The Iron Dome is a system that prevents missiles from reaching Israel by blowing them up in the sky. It works quickly and saves many lives every day.

The logic behind the system is ingenious and direct. It is based on three main components:

Radar: Detects and tracks enemy missiles.

Control Center: Calculates the missile's trajectory and decides whether it poses a threat.

Tamir Missile Launchers: They intercept projectiles that could reach populated areas.

Interestingly, if the system calculates that the missile will fall in an uninhabited area, it does not act. Why? To save expensive resources. After all, each shot from the system costs more than R$350!

Why is the Iron Dome so efficient?

With an interception rate of around 90%, the Iron Dome is a true invisible wall. It can operate in any weather conditions and is mobile, allowing its adaptation to different regions. However, this efficiency comes at a price, literally. The high cost of maintenance and operation raises doubts about its long-term sustainability.

To address its economic and strategic challenges, Israel is developing the Iron Beam laser defense system. In addition to being cheaper, it is incredibly fast and effective against short-range threats. While the Iron Dome can deal with projectiles from 4 km away, the Iron Beam covers shorter distances, complementing the current system.

The challenge of massive attacks

For all its sophistication, the Iron Dome struggles when overwhelmed. In recent attacks, Hamas fired some 5.000 missiles in just 20 minutes. Even a such an advanced system has limits, highlighting the need for continuous innovation.

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Carla Teles de Lima

I talk about technology, innovation and the oil and gas sector, bringing up-to-date and relevant content about the Brazilian market. Every day, I share information about job opportunities and the main news in the sector. Do you have a suggestion for a topic? Just send it to my email: carlatdl016@gmail.com.

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