In first, Iron Dome intercepts rockets, drones at once

Aerial defense system successfully completes series of trials, testing ability to intercept multiple threats at same time and sending message to Iran after series of attacks on Saudi targets using UAVs and cruise missiles

Associated Press|

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The Defense Ministry on Tuesday announced it has completed an upgrade of the country's Iron Dome rocket defense system to cope with an additional array of aerial threats.
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The Iron Dome was developed by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to intercept short-range unguided rockets and has shot down some 2,500 incoming projectiles fired from the Gaza Strip since it was deployed a decade ago.
3 View gallery 
A series of advanced trials of the Iron Dome weapon system 
(Photo: The Defense Minister)
In a statement, the ministry's head of missile defense, Moshe Patel, said the Iron Dome has completed a series of tests that included successful interceptions of rocket and missile salvos as well as simultaneous interceptions of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles.
The campaign, along with two recent Iron Dome flight tests, “demonstrated a significant upgrade of the system’s technological capabilities,” the Defense Ministry stated. 
“The new version of the Iron Dome system will be delivered to the IAF and the Navy for operational use and will strengthen Israel’s multi-tier missile defense capabilities,” the ministry said.
3 View gallery 
Iron Dome intercepts multiple targets during trials 
(Photo: Defense Ministry)
“In the face of emerging and rapidly changing threats, these new capabilities provide the political echelon and defense establishment with the operational flexibility that is critical to our national security,” Defense Minister Benny Gantz said of the results.
The Iron Dome is part of Israel's multilayered aerial defense system, ranging from systems capable of intercepting rockets fired from short range up to striking long-range missiles outside of the atmosphere.
They provide a defense against a wide array of ballistic projectiles, with eyes on the Iranian ballistic threat and those presented by the Hezbollah terror organization from Lebanon and Hamas and Islamic Jihad from the Gaza Strip.
3 View gallery 
A series of advanced trials of the Iron Dome weapon system 
(Photo: Defense Ministry)
Iran has recently demonstrated such attack capacities in several strikes on targets in Saudi Arabia.
Patel said the new Iron Dome system would be deployed by the Israel Air Force and Navy in the near future.
In 2018, the Iron Dome system was voted Israel’s top innovation of all time in honor of the country’s 70th Independence Day celebrations.

i24NEWS contributed to this report 