Iron Dome

Iron Dome (Kipat Barzel) is the Israeli short-range air-defense system designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of 4 to 70 kilometers. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with mPrest providing command-and-control software, Iron Dome was declared operational in March 2011 and has since fired thousands of Tamir interceptors at a claimed success rate above 90% against threats heading for populated areas.

How Much Does Iron Dome Cost to Operate?

Each Tamir interceptor costs roughly $40,000 to $100,000 depending on the production batch, with surge production during active conflict pushing per-unit costs toward the top of that range. A complete battery, comprising launchers, an EL/M-2084 radar and a command unit, costs an estimated $70 million to $95 million. Israel operates roughly 10 deployed batteries, with 15 planned as the eventual target.

How Has Iron Dome Performed in Combat?

During the 2014 Gaza war, Iron Dome intercepted more than 90% of the roughly 800 rockets identified as threats, recording 735 successful interceptions. It maintained a similar success rate during the 2021 Gaza conflict. Iron Dome's naval variant recorded its first operational interception in April 2024, near Eilat. During the broader multi-layer engagements of the 2024 and 2026 Iran-Israel conflicts, Israel's combined air-defense stack, Iron Dome alongside David's Sling, Arrow 3 and Iron Beam, intercepted an estimated 86% to 90% of incoming threats overall, though Iron Dome's own interception rate against genuine ballistic-missile-type threats fell to an estimated 20% to 30% during some 2025 engagements, reflecting a threat class the system was not originally designed to counter.

Which Countries Use or Have Ordered Iron Dome?

The United States has acquired Iron Dome batteries for base protection and testing. Export or production agreements have been reached with Azerbaijan, Romania and Cyprus, and Singapore is reported to operate the system as well, making Iron Dome one of Rafael's most commercially significant export programs alongside its role in Israeli civilian defense.

How Does Iron Dome Fit Alongside Iron Beam and Israel's Other Layers?

Iron Beam, which entered Israeli service on December 28, 2025 as a directed-energy laser system also built by Rafael, complements Iron Dome at the low-cost end of Israel's air-defense stack: each Iron Beam shot costs only a few dollars in electricity, compared with tens of thousands of dollars per Tamir interceptor, though Iron Beam still operates alongside rather than in place of Iron Dome. Iron Dome remains the lowest tier of a broader architecture that includes David's Sling at medium range and the Arrow family for long-range, exo-atmospheric interception.

Related Olam Coverage

• The Iron Dome Architecture
• Iron Dome Is Famous. The Companies That Built It Are Not.
• Above Iron Dome: Israel's Air-Defense Stack
• Rafael's Laser Rewrites Air Defense
• Qatar Owns 17% of VW — And Just Used It to Block Rafael's Iron Dome Deal
• ELTA's AESA Radar Cohort

See also: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems · Elbit Systems · Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) · MAFAT · Defense Export License · Order Backlog