Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system has come into the spotlight this week after a surprise attack of thousands of rockets sent into the country by the terrorist organization Hamas over the weekend.
The world-renowned defense system was overwhelmed by the barrage of rockets on Saturday, pointing to a potential weakness in the country's air defense. More than 700 people have been killed in Israel so far, with thousands more wounded. At least 11 Americans were among the fatalities, and more are believed to be taken hostage.
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What is the Iron Dome, and how does it operate?
The Iron Dome is a network of radars and missile launchers that Israel uses to identify incoming short-range rockets and intercept them if they are headed toward a sensitive or civilian area. The system was developed by two Israeli companies with support from the United States. It has touted an accuracy rate as high as 90% and was first deployed in 2011.
The missile interceptors, which destroy incoming rockets, use radar to monitor a rocket or missile's path. If the path looks like the rocket will land in a populated area, the interceptors are deployed.
How many missiles and interceptors does Israel have?
Israel currently has 10 Iron Dome batteries stationed around the country, and they are strategically placed near highly populated areas and cities. Each battery includes three to four launchers, and each launcher can hold up to 20 interceptors, according to Raytheon. Each battery can protect up to 60 square miles and can detect rockets up to 43 miles away, or at a distance of 4-70 kilometers.
The United States is expected to help replenish Israel's stockpile, but it is unclear how much would be provided or the dollar amount it is expected to cost.
What are some of the Iron Dome's weaknesses?
One clear weakness in the defense system is the possibility of it being overwhelmed. Israel's enemies knew there would be a saturation point in which a barrage of rockets would be too great for the defense system to fight off efficiently, but before Saturday, that magic number had not been reached. The Israeli military estimated that at least 3,250 rockets had been fired from Gaza as of Sunday, but Hamas said it was around 5,000.
There is also the matter of costs. It is far less expensive for Hamas to purchase or create the rockets it uses for the attack than it is for Israel to maintain and stock its defense system, experts have warned. Each missile that intercepts the rockets costs around $40,000, according to CNN.
Its limited range of up to 43 miles away can also be perceived as a weakness; however, it is only one aspect of Israel's defense system.
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Other parts of Israel's air defense
Israel has a multitier air defense system, where the Iron Dome works alongside the David's Sling system, also known as Magic Wand. David's Sling covers the middle range of between 62-124 miles. The long-distance air defense system is the Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 systems, which are designed to intercept ballistic missiles outside of the Earth's atmosphere.