Amid renewed fighting in Gaza, Israel conducts ‘advanced’ tests for Iron Dome
The Rafael-made missile intercept platform is the lowest tier of Israel’s multi-layered air defense system.
Israeli firm Rafael and the Israeli Ministry of Defense conduct Iron Dome tests in March 2025. (Ministry of Defense)
JERUSALEM — The Israel Missile Defense Organization, which is part of Israel’s Ministry of Defense, conducted a series of new “advanced” interception tests with the Iron Dome Air Defense System this month, the ministry revealed recently, saying “new capabilities” shown “represent a significant leap in the system’s performance and ability to counter evolving regional threats.”
The tests were conducted by Iron Dome-maker Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, whose CEO, Yoav Tourgeman described the exercise as “the largest and most significant ever conducted with the Iron Dome defense system.”
He added in the ministry’s statement Friday that “the tests incorporated new capabilities across a wide range of scenarios, all of which the system successfully handled. These new capabilities will further enhance our ability to address future threats.” The ministry, too, called it a “successful comprehensive flight test campaign.”
The tests were announced days after the Israel Defense Forces began a new operation against Hamas on March 18. Israel has been fighting a complex multi-front war since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. This has involved the need to confront ballistic missiles, long range kamikaze drones, as well as rocket and cruise missile threats.
The ministry said that the recent tests built on “operational lessons learned during the current war.” It added that “the test series examined several scenarios simulating current and future threats that the system might face during conflict, including rockets, cruise missiles, and UAVs. The campaign also incorporated additional elements that enhance the robustness of the multi-layered defense array.”
In a video from the tests, two Iron Dome batteries, each with 20 interceptors, were seen linked to an Elta MMR radar and confronting a large number of rocket and drone threats. A third company, mPrest Defense, also provides part of the system for Iron Dome. In the video the Iron Dome interceptors are seen striking the threats from a variety of angles, including appearing to follow slower moving rockets and hitting them from behind. It appeared that some of the threats also were designed to immitate the trajectories of cruise missiles.
The ministry noted that during the war over the last 17 months, Iron Dome has intercepted “thousands of rockets, UAV, cruise missiles, and UAS threats, providing a critical layer of protection for civilian populations and strategic infrastructure.”
The system has been operational since 2011. It was developed in the aftermath of the 2006 war with Hezbollah. Although it began its early years primarily confronting rocket threats from Gaza, it has been increasingly deployed on other fronts to confront more complex threats. In Israel the system is used along with David’s Sling, the middle tier; and Arrow, the highest tier; to form a multi-layered defense.
“Throughout this war, we’ve seen that the Iron Dome Air and Missile defense system remains a critical asset even when facing intense barrages and adapting to the dynamic requirements of ground operations,” Moshe Patel, the head of the Israel Missile Defense Organization said. “This latest round of testing has allowed us to validate several new capabilities informed directly by battlefield insights successfully. This campaign further reinforce our confidence in the system’s ability to safeguard Israel and its people,” he added.
