Iron Dome passes final tests

Anti-missile defense system, on which Israelis within range of Hamas, Hezbollah's short-range rockets hang their hopes, will be ready for use in November, officials say. However it is not yet to be deployed in Gaza vicinity

Hanan Greenberg

Published:  07.19.10, 20:25 / Israel News

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Final testing on the Iron Dome missile defense system was completed Monday, but a schedule of its deployment, beginning in November, shows the IDF is not planning on stationing it in the Gaza vicinity just yet.

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During the final tests, held by its designer, Rafael, as well as IDF antiaircraft forces, the system was successfully activated against a number of different simultaneous threats.

Analysis and processing of technological data followed, after which a schedule of its deployment was constructed.

In the drilling area in southern Israel, Iron Dome first encountered and successfully intercepted a number of missiles fired simultaneously from different directions.

Thus ended the system's developmental stage, and it is set to become operational in November by Air Force antiaircraft teams established especially for its operation.

In recent months the army has been working to locate areas in the Gaza vicinity in which it would be possible to station the Iron Dome, but has not planned to deploy it in the area yet due to the relatively few instances of rocket fire that have occurred lately.

However, officials say a system can be stationed in the field within 24 hours if needed.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the Iron Dome is "an important milestone for the defense establishment and security industries that completed the development of the system in an incomparably short period of time". He added that the system would be deployed as soon as possible.

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