Photo: Israel Ministry of Defense

Israel Enhances Iron Dome in Latest Tests

Our Bureau - : Mar 21, 2025 - : 12:48 am

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The Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), part of the Directorate of Defence Research & Development (DDR&D) within the Ministry of Defence (IMOD), has conducted a series of interception tests for the Iron Dome defence system. The tests, carried out in collaboration with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, assessed the system’s response to various advanced threats and scenarios.

The test campaign incorporated lessons from the ongoing conflict, simulating potential current and future threats, including rockets, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It also evaluated additional elements aimed at strengthening Israel’s multi-layered defence network.

The Iron Dome, operational since 2011, is a key component of Israel’s Air and Missile Defence Array. During the current conflict, it has been extensively deployed, intercepting thousands of projectiles, including rockets, UAVs, and cruise missiles, to protect civilian areas and strategic sites. The latest tests demonstrated new capabilities that enhance the system’s effectiveness against evolving threats.

The Iron Dome is part of a broader national defence framework that also includes the Arrow and David’s Sling systems. The IMDO leads the development of this integrated defence system, with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems serving as the primary contractor, working alongside ELTA Systems—a division of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)—and mPrest Defense.

IMDO Director Moshe Patel stated, "Throughout this war, we've seen that the Iron Dome Air & Missile defense system remains a critical asset even when facing intense barrages and adapting to the dynamic requirements of ground operations. The Israel Missile Defense Organization is continuously enhancing the Iron Dome's capabilities—on both land and sea—even while operating under fire in wartime conditions. This latest round of testing has allowed us to validate several new capabilities informed directly by battlefield insights successfully. This campaign further reinforce our confidence in the system's ability to safeguard Israel and its people.”

Rafael CEO Yoav Tourgeman remarked, “Even after more than a decade of operational service, the Iron Dome defense system continues to demonstrate its immense contribution to Israel’s security and the protection of its citizens. Rafael is proud to conclude that this successful and advanced test campaign was the largest and most significant ever conducted with the Iron Dome defense system. The tests incorporated new capabilities across a wide range of scenarios, all of which the system successfully handled. These new capabilities will further enhance our ability to address future threats.”

Tourgeman also expressed appreciation for Rafael’s engineers and technical teams, as well as partners at the IMDO and the Israeli Air Force’s Air Defence Corps, for their contributions to the system’s development and testing.

Rafael-advanced-defense-systems / Iron-dome /

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