Tel Aviv: The upgrades made by Israeli company Rafael in its Iron Dome air defence system has made it more versatile as it managed to intercept threats in the current war that in the past were not in the “Kill Circle” of the system. The upgrades made the Iron Dome effective against drones, cruise missiles, and rocket barrages.
Recent tests by the Israeli Defence Ministry and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems have boosted the system’s radar, interceptors, and AI-driven decision-making for faster threat tracking and higher interception rates, even in multi-threat scenarios. These improvements, validated in battlefield conditions, expand capabilities beyond short-range rockets to include drones and medium-range missiles.
The Iron Dome family includes mobile (I-Dome) and naval (C-Dome) versions, continuously evolving with over 90% success in 5,000+ interceptions since 2011. Upgrades continue, and the Next-Gen version features compact radar arrays, real-time adaptive interceptors, and AI for handling dense salvos. Over 15 years of operational service, the system has logged more than 10,000 combat intercepts and sustained success rates exceeding 90%.
Yoav Tourgeman, CEO of Rafael said that after 15 years of operational activity — and all the more so in these days of intense fighting across every front – the Iron Dome continues to prove itself day after day, under complex conditions and against shifting threats.
-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
