Rafael Iron Dome

Iron Dome is a C-RAM (Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar) and SHORAD system optimized against cheap short-range projectiles (Qassam, Grad rockets, mortars, drones, short-range cruise missiles). Architecture: an ELM-2084 X-band multi-mission radar (Israel Aerospace Industries Elta), a battle management & weapons control (BMC) post, and three to four launcher trucks each with 20 Tamir interceptors in canisters. The core idea — and what makes the system cost-effective — is selectivity: the ELM-2084 calculates within milliseconds where an incoming rocket will impact, and if the impact falls in an unpopulated area no interceptor is launched (a Qassam costs USD 800, a Tamir USD 50,000). Only rockets aimed at populated areas or vital infrastructure are intercepted.