Israel's Iron Dome: What you must know about it

Palestinian outfit Hamas has fired over 1050 rockets on central and southern Israel in the last 38 hours. However, the Israeli Defence Forces have been able to keep out the barrage of projectiles with their Iron Dome missile defence system.

The Iron Dome has been a key element of Israel's defence against projectiles ranging from mortars to rockets with varying ranges and warheads.

The missile defence system is highly mobile. It is also effective against aircraft, helicopters, UAVs and cruise missiles.

Iron Dome has been developed in collaboration between Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the Israel Missile Defense Organization.

According to Rafael, Iron Dome differentiates between potential threats headed for populated areas and those that could fall into the sea or open fields. The system reduces costs and limits unnecessary interceptor launches. 

Rafael said that a single battery could protect a medium-sized city.

The all-weather missile defence system has a unique interceptor with a warhead that detonates the target warhead in the sky.