Israeli MoD announces Iron Dome upgrade

The Israeli MoD said an Iron Beam was integrated into the Iron Dome battlement management centre for the tests. (Israel Ministry of Defense)

The Iron Dome air defence system's effectiveness against saturation attacks has been improved, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced on 30 June.

It said various Iron Dome upgrades that include “enhancements that improve the system's ability to contend with high rates and volumes of fire” had been subject to a series of tests simulating existing and future threats involving artillery rockets, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

“The new capabilities demonstrated during the test series represent a significant leap in the system's ability to counter a wide range of attack scenarios,” the MoD said.

It quoted Yoav Tourgeman, the CEO of Iron Dome prime contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, as saying the test series “represents a further expansion of the [Iron Dome] system's capability envelope”.

The tests also involved the integration of the Iron Beam laser weapon with the Iron Dome battle management centre. The Iron Beam has always been presented as an supplement to Iron Dome that provides a lower-cost interception capability. The first system officially entered service with the Israeli Air Force in December 2025.

For more, please see: IDF receives first Iron Beam laser weapon