Iron Dome scored 90 per cent plus kill rate in recent combat firings

During its latest combat deployment, Iron Dome achieved a 100 per cent success rate in identifying incoming threats, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems told Jane's during a briefing at the recent Defence Security and Equipment International (DSEi) exhibition in London. The success rate for interceptions was more than 90 per cent.

One failure to achieve an interception was due to the fact that the deployment location in Israel of the first two batteries to be fielded had been chosen in order to try to protect three cities, so it was less than optimal.

The system had been deployed in response to a sharp increase in rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. Following a 7 August decision to deploy a single battery near Ashkelon, the first interceptions were achieved during the night of 18-19 August. The second battery was deployed to the region on 21 August in order to increase the size of the area being protected, and the third was deployed near Ashdod by 31 August.