Article Posted on : - Apr 14, 2011

JERUSALEM (BNS): The Israeli government has given the approval for the purchase of four more Iron Dome batteries, the IDF said.

According to a report on the IDF website, a ministerial committee on Wednesday approved the proposal for the purchase of four additional Iron Dome anti-rocket batteries at the request of Defence Minister Ehud Barak.

The batteries are expected to be operational within a year and a half and two years, the report said.

The Iron Dome system was designed as a response to the threats Israel faces from short-range rockets and mortar shells.

The system has the capability to identify and destroy such projectiles before they land in Israeli territory.

Currently, two Iron Dome systems are undergoing operational trial. Israel plans to increase the number of operational batteries to six in the coming years.