April 9, 2024 | Flash Brief

Israel’s Maritime Iron Dome Makes First Successful Intercept

April 9, 2024 | Flash Brief

Israel’s Maritime Iron Dome Makes First Successful Intercept

Latest Developments

The ship-mounted version of Iron Dome shot down a drone on April 8 that entered Israeli airspace near Eilat, according to the Israel Defense Forces. “C-Dome,” which, like Iron Dome, is designed to provide short-range aerial protection, is fitted aboard the Israeli navy’s Sa’ar 6 corvettes, which were deployed to the Red Sea. The interception marked the first reported operational use of the Israeli system. The drone may have been the latest long-range attack by Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen in solidarity with Hamas, although other Iranian-backed groups have also targeted Eilat.

Expert Analysis

“Iron Dome was a miracle of military ingenuity and expeditiousness that has saved many Israeli lives. So, it’s no surprise that its naval counterpart has proven itself in the current multi-front war against the Jewish state by the Iranian axis. And as with Iron Dome and other Israeli systems, U.S. military industries and allies stand to gain from this battle-tested technology.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“A silver lining of the combat in Gaza and the continued attacks against Israel is that they are providing the Israel Defense Forces opportunities to demonstrate and hone existing capabilities for the much more daunting battles Israel will confront in the future. Demonstrations of capabilities can facilitate export opportunities that will help Israel build its domestic defense industrial base, and identifying and addressing needed improvements can save lives in future battles. More broadly, the danger before October 7 was overconfidence, and Israelis should guard against the same mistake in response to positive news such as this. Shooting down a single drone is not difficult once it is detected.” —Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power

“Houthis renew attacks in Red Sea after three day hiatus,” by Seth J. Frantzman

“Houthi Missile Strikes Israeli Soil for First Time,” FDD Flash Brief

“How to Ensure Israel Has the Weapons It Needs,” by Bradley Bowman and Richard Goldberg

“Israel has intercepted 9,500 rockets fired thanks to its multi-layered air defense system,” by Seth J. Frantzman

Issues:

Israel Israel at War Military and Political Power