Article Posted on : - Feb 08, 2013

A file photo.

YELAHANKA, BANGALORE (BNS): For the first time Israel is showcasing the 'Iron Dome' missile system, at the ongoing air show at Yelahanka Air Force station in Bangalore.

The Iron Dome is an air defence missile system designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of 4 to 70 kilometers.

The missile sytem developed by Israels's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems became operational in 2011 and was initially deployed near Beersheba.

Israel began developing the missile shield after the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets at northern Israel, including on Haifa, the country's third largest city, in 2006.

The Iron Dome can be operated in all weather conditions, any time of day or night and can respond to multiple threats simultaneously. Israel has deployed five Iron Dome batteries in the south and centre of the country since 2011.

Each battery of the Iron Dome consists of Battle Management & Weapon Control (BMC) system, a detection and radar tracking system, and the Tamir interceptor missile.

The system is designed to counter short-range rockets and 155 mm artillery shells with a range of up to 70 kilometers.

The “incoming” is detected by the highly sophisticated radar system, and the information on the missile’s trajectory, direction, and location are transferred to the command and control system, which then decides what to do.

Israel's Ministry of Defence said it is holding a series of tests of an upgraded version of the Iron Dome rocket defence system, together with manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defence systems.The upgrades are designed to give the Iron Dome “improved capabilities against an unprecedented range of threats."