Iron Dome, short-range mobile air defense system developed for Israel by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, with additional support from Raytheon. First deployed in 2011, Iron Dome constitutes the innermost layer of the tiered Israeli air defense network.
The purpose of Iron Dome is threefold: detection of incoming airborne threats, assessment of their likely point of impact, and interception. Each element of the Iron Dome system was designed to focus on one aspect of this mission. An all-weather fire control radar system detects and tracks potential targets at ranges of 2.5–43 miles (4–70 km). A battle management computer determines whether the incoming rocket or missile will land in an inhabited area. If the projectile likely poses no threat to life or infrastructure, it is disregarded, and an interceptor is conserved. The most conspicuous part of Iron Dome is the interceptor launcher, which contains up to 20 Tamir missiles. A typical Iron Dome battery is equipped with three or four such launchers.
Source: britannica.com/topic/Iron-Dome
