Tel Aviv: The Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), under the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s DDR&D, along with the Israeli Navy and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems have successfully completed a series of multi-system and multi-tier tests using the naval version of the Iron Dome system, known as “C-Dome.”
The C-Dome, installed on the Israeli Navy’s Sa’ar 6 “Magen” corvettes, successfully intercepted advanced targets which represent threats to the State of Israel’s infrastructure and strategic assets in its exclusive economic zone. Israeli Navy combat personnel operated the systems used in the test as part of the operationalization process of the “Magen” corvettes.
The series of tests included simulated existing and future threats that the “Magen” ships may face during conflict, such as rockets, cruise missiles, and UAVs. The tests integrated shipboard systems with Israel’s multi-tier defence array and tested new technologies to enhance the air and missile defence multi-tier array’s operational effectiveness at sea and on land. The success of the tests is another significant milestone in the array’s development to counter existing and future threats in various combat arenas.
The C-Dome system contributes to the “Magen” corvettes’ defensive capabilities and improves existing capabilities to protect the State of Israel’s assets and economic interests within the exclusive economic zone and ensures naval superiority.
The C-Dome system aboard Sa’ar 6 “Magen” corvettes is based on the venerated Iron Dome system and constitutes an additional layer of the State of Israel’s multi-tier air and missile defence array. The array is based on four operational defence tiers: Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow 2, and Arrow 3. Development of these systems is led by DDR&D’s Israel Missile Defense Organization.
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is the prime contractor and developer of the Iron Dome and works in partnership with subcontractors such as Israel Aerospace Industries’ ELTA Systems, which supplies the multi-mission radar, and mPrest, responsible for the command-and-control systems.
Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant commented, “The C-Dome system constitutes a significant leap forward in our defence capabilities, and ensures the Israeli defence establishment’s superiority and operational capabilities in the face of growing threats in the maritime arena. The system’s naval adaptation is part of our advanced multi-tier air and missile defence system. I would like to express my great appreciation for the Directorate for Defense R&D, the IDF, and Rafael, for turning a tech vision into reality – developing operational capabilities in the field.”
Head of the DDR&D, Brig Gen (res.) Dr Daniel Gold said, “These successful tests are one of the many efforts we are carrying out to improve our air and missile defence systems‘ preparedness for future threats and improve system performance in the face of existing threats. The campaign’s success further strengthens our confidence in the defence systems and their ability to protect extensive areas as well as the State of Israel’s strategic assets on land and at sea. We will continue working together with the IDF and Israeli defence industries to protect the State of Israel, while realising and preserving the State of Israel’s qualitative advantage.”
Director of DDR&D’s IMDO, Moshe Patel added, “The Israeli defence establishment is constantly upgrading the Iron Dome’s capabilities on land and at sea to increase its effectiveness. During this current campaign, we successfully tested the Naval Iron Dome’s new capabilities aboard the Sa’ar 6 corvette together with additional systems in Israel’s multi-tier air and missile defence array, including connectivity between systems on-board with those on land, and a new radar developed to protect Israel’s exclusive economic zone. The system successfully identified various threats including rockets, UAVs and cruise missiles, and destroyed them using interceptors launched from onboard the ship at sea, with exceptional precision. The preparation and execution of this test was done in parallel with the successful operational participation of Iron Dome and David’s Sling during Operation “Shield and Arrow”. We continue to provide technological support for current needs, alongside development of new solutions for future threats.”
Head of Material, Technology and Logistics Command, Rear Admiral Ariel Shir said, “The current experiment is part of the road map for the development and improvement of the defence capabilities of the defence ships, while providing a response and adaptation to the evolving needs in the arena. This experiment is further evidence of the development and improvement capabilities of the various systems in the face of threats, and the ability of the defence ship systems to operate in an integrated and complete manner – From the construction of the naval and aerial picture, through the discovery, classification and identification of threats and ending with interception and accurate destruction of the threats. These capabilities were achieved through close cooperation with the Ministry of Defense/DDR&D, Israeli industries, Israeli Air Force (IAF) and naval engineers and personnel at the headquarters and on the vessels. The experiment included both an improvement in the existing systems, and a proof of capability for a new anti-aircraft missile, that significantly improves the defence envelope of the defence ships, both independently and as part of the national anti-aircraft network.”
Executive Vice President and Head of the Land and Naval Systems Directorate at Rafael, Dr Ran Gozali commented, “The success of the latest live trials of the C-DOME missile defence system constitutes another technological breakthrough led by Rafael. We are proud of our role in supporting the development of the Israeli Navy’s operational capabilities and of the Israel Defense Forces in general. We continue striving towards executing our mission of ensuring technological excellence and the most capable defence for the State of Israel.”
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
