Israel Unveils New C-Dome Naval Missile Defense System

C-DOME missile defense system (Credit: Ministry of Defense Spokesperson’s Office)

The Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), under the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s DDR&D, along with the Israeli Navy and Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems said they have successfully completed a series of multi-system and multi-tier tests using the naval version of the Iron Dome system, known as “C-Dome.” The C-Dome, installed on the Israeli Navy’s Saar 6 “Magen” corvettes, successfully intercepted advanced targets which represent threats to the State of Israel’s infrastructure and strategic assets in its exclusive economic zone. Israeli Navy combat personnel operated the systems used in the test as part of the operationalization process of the “Magen” corvettes.

Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile defense system is the envy of the world. Every time in recent years that Israel has been attacked by rockets and missiles, the system successfully intercepted almost all of the threats. This was the case in Israel’s recent “Operations Shield and Arrow” conducted against the bases of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization in Gaza.

So far, the Iron Dome technology has been used to defend land based targets – civilian targets – from enemy attacks. But now the IDF is showing that it can also be used to protect ships at sea from missile attacks.

The IMDO said the series of tests conducted included simulated existing and future threats that the “Magen” ships may face during conflict, such as rockets, cruise missiles, and UAVs. The tests integrated shipboard systems with Israel’s multi-tier defense array and tested new technologies to enhance the air and missile defense multi-tier array’s operational effectiveness at sea and on land. The success of the tests is another significant milestone in the array’s development to counter existing and future threats in various combat arenas.

The C-Dome system contributes to the “Magen” corvettes’ defensive capabilities and improves existing capabilities to protect the State of Israel’s assets and economic interests within the exclusive economic zone and ensures naval superiority.

The C-Dome system aboard Sa’ar 6 “Magen” corvettes is based on the venerated Iron Dome system and constitutes an additional layer of the State of Israel’s multi-tier air and missile defense array. The array is based on four operational defense tiers: Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow 2, and Arrow 3. Development of these systems is led by DDR&D’s Israel Missile Defense Organization. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is the prime contractor and developer of the Iron Dome and works in partnership with subcontractors such as Israel Aerospace Industries’ Elta Systems, which supplies the multi-mission radar, and mPrest, responsible for the command-and-control systems.

Israel’s Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant said, “The C-Dome system constitutes a significant leap forward in our defense capabilities, and ensures the Israeli defense establishment’s superiority and operational capabilities in the face of growing threats in the maritime arena. The system’s naval adaptation is part of our advanced multi-tier air and missile defense system. I would like to express my great appreciation for the Directorate for Defense R&D, the IDF, and Rafael, for turning a tech vision into reality – developing operational capabilities in the field.”

Executive Vice President and Head of the Land and Naval Systems Directorate at RAFAEL, Dr. Ran Gozali added, “The success of the latest live trials of the C-DOME missile defense system constitutes another technological breakthrough led by RAFAEL. We are proud of our role in supporting the development of the Israeli Navy’s operational capabilities and of the Israel Defense Forces in general. We continue striving towards executing our mission of ensuring technological excellence and the most capable defense for the State of Israel.”