The Ministry of Defense (IMOD) has announced the successful completion of a wide-scale interception test campaign for the Iron Dome air defense system—demonstrating significant new capabilities against evolving threats including rockets, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Led by the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) within the Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D), in collaboration with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the test series incorporated real-time lessons from the ongoing war. The results represent a major technological leap forward in Israel’s ability to defend its population and strategic infrastructure from increasingly complex attacks.
“This was the most significant and advanced Iron Dome test campaign ever,” said Rafael CEO Yoav Tourgeman. “The system performed flawlessly in intercepting a wide spectrum of threats across a range of scenarios. These new capabilities will help us counter the threats of tomorrow.”
The Iron Dome system—first operational in 2011—has been one of the most iconic and life-saving technologies in Israel’s defense history, credited with intercepting thousands of incoming rockets during multiple wars. During the current Iron Swords War, it has faced the most intense barrages in history, including ballistic missiles, drone swarms, and coordinated rocket attacks from Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iran-backed proxies.
IMDO Director Moshe Patel emphasized that even under live-fire wartime conditions, the Iron Dome is being continuously enhanced. “We’re adapting in real time,” he said. “This test campaign allowed us to validate battlefield-driven improvements, ensuring Iron Dome remains the cornerstone of Israel’s multi-layered air defense array.”
The test campaign also included simulation of naval-based threats, showcasing the system’s increasing flexibility and its role in safeguarding both land and sea assets.
Israel’s air defense network includes not only Iron Dome but also the long-range Arrow system and the medium-range David’s Sling—together forming a world-leading, multi-tiered shield against threats ranging from short-range rockets to intercontinental ballistic missiles. This layered approach proved vital during Iran’s unprecedented direct missile assaults on Israel in 2024.
The Ministry of Defense has also released footage of the upgraded Iron Dome in action—showing interceptors striking targets with pinpoint precision. The IDF has reportedly begun stockpiling these upgraded interceptors in preparation for continued multi-front threats.
With this breakthrough, Israel sends a clear message to its enemies: your weapons are no longer unstoppable. Whether launched from Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, or Iran—Israel has the technology, resilience, and determination to stop every threat before it harms a single civilian.
