What is Israel's Iron Dome? Its air defence system, explained

As missiles rained down on Israel this week, its air defence systems went into action. The country has several layers of air defence.

Israel's Iron Dome system started operating more than a decade ago. Source: AP / Ariel Schalit

The Iron Dome air defence system is one of several systems the country has developed to protect itself from missiles since the Gulf War in 1991.

Then, Iraq fired Scud missiles aimed at Tel Aviv and Haifa. Israel has experienced missile attacks in the years since as part of ongoing conflicts with its neighbours.

The Iron Dome is the most well-known of the air defence systems, but it also uses Arrow interceptions and a system called David's Sling.

Here's what Israel's air defences are:

What is the Iron Dome?

The short-range Iron Dome air defence system was built to intercept the kind of rockets fired by Hamas in Gaza.

Developed by Israeli state-owned company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with US backing, it became operational in 2011. Each truck-towed unit fires radar-guided missiles to blow up short-range threats such as rockets, mortars and drones in mid-air.

A naval version of the Iron Dome to protect ships and sea-based assets was deployed in 2017.

The Israeli Iron Dome pictured intercepting missiles launched from the Gaza strip near Sderot in southern Israel. Source: EPA / Atef Safadi

The system determines whether a rocket is on course to hit a populated area; if not, the rocket is ignored and allowed to land harmlessly.

Iron Dome was originally billed as providing city-sized coverage against rockets with ranges of between four and 70km but experts say this has since been expanded.

What is David's Sling?

David's Sling system is designed to shoot down ballistic missiles fired from 100 to 200km away.

It was developed and manufactured jointly by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the US company RTX, formerly known as Raytheon.

The system is also designed to intercept aircraft, drones and cruise missiles.

Two-thirds of the estimated $2.3 billion cost of the Arrow project was financed by the United States. Source: AP / Israel Aircraft Industries

What is the Arrow system?

The long-range Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 interceptors, developed by Israel with an Iranian missile threat in mind, are designed to engage threats both in and outside the atmosphere,

It operates at an altitude that allows for the safe dispersal of any non-conventional warheads.

State-owned Israel Aerospace Industries is the project's main contractor, while Boeing is involved in producing the interceptors.

Israel said it had used the system on 31 October last year to intercept a surface-to-surface missile fired from the area of the Red Sea towards its territory.