At the annual aerospace parley, the Defense Ministry showed a film of the
Iron Dome intercept. The edited clip showed the Iron Dome interceptor
hurling into the air followed by an explosion. The interceptor's approach
toward the incoming target missile was not shown.
Officials said Iron Dome was not designed solely for hit-to-kill
interception. They said the interceptor, through the use of shrapnel, was
capable of stopping or diverting an incoming missile from a distance of
three meters.
Iron Dome has been designed and developed by the state-owned Rafael
Advanced Defense Systems. Officials said Iron Dome would be ready for
deployment in 2011, but could be rushed into service earlier.
Officials said Iron Dome, meant to operate at all times and in any
weather, would be the lowest tier of Israel's multi-layered missile defense
umbrella. The system was designed to intercept missiles and rockets with a
range of up to 70 kilometers.
The Defense Ministry has encouraged Rafael to market Iron Dome to
foreign countries. Officials said the system has been marketed to Brazil and
India.
"It will be an export hit," Barak said.