The Israeli Navy’s C-Dome air defense system, a variant of the renowned Iron Dome, has achieved its inaugural operational intercept. Deployed aboard an Israeli Navy Sa’ar 6 missile corvette navigating the waters of the Red Sea, the system successfully intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle detected flying towards Eilat, a prominent Israeli city on the Red Sea coastline. Developed by Rafael, in conjunction with the Israeli company mPrest for its command-and-control infrastructure, the C-Dome system represents a formidable addition to Israel’s defense arsenal. Integrated with the Sa’ar 6 corvette’s ‘Adir’ radar, engineered by IAI’s ELTA division, it bolsters the nation’s multi-tiered missile defense network alongside systems like Arrow and David’s Sling.
The Sa’ar 6 corvettes, purposefully designed to host a combination of air defense systems, including Barak-8 alongside C-Dome, offer versatility in response to varying threat levels.In some scenarios, both interceptors will be launched, underscoring the adaptable nature of the naval defense strategy. Key to C-Dome’s efficacy is its cutting-edge radar technology, crafted by ELTA Systems, an IAI subsidiary, delivering precise real-time situational awareness and excelling in detecting low Radar Cross Section (RCS) targets even amidst challenging environmental conditions. This digital Active Electronic Steering Array (AESA) Radar System represents a leap forward in maritime defense capabilities.
The system’s modular launcher, discreetly housed beneath the ship’s deck, features canistered interceptors that are maintenance-free and sea-proof, ensuring reliability in maritime environments. Integration with the ship’s combat management system further streamlines operations, enabling seamless command and control. With the ability to load up to eight interceptors into its Vertical Launcher Unit, C-Dome stands as a robust deterrent against aerial threats, embodying Israel’s commitment to innovation in defense technology. This successful operational intercept marks a pivotal moment in naval defense, affirming the effectiveness of Israeli ingenuity in safeguarding maritime assets and territorial integrity.
Rafael emphasizes C-Dome’s capacity to counter saturation attacks by engaging multiple targets simultaneously, boasting rapid reaction times conducive to automatic and semi-automatic engagements. It is designed to protect vessels in blue and littoral waters from ballistic trajectory and direct attack weapons fired in saturation attacks. C-Dome includes a 10-round canister loaded with vertically-launched Tamir interceptors for 360-degree coverage, a feature not supported by the land-based Iron Dome system; the ship’s own surveillance radar is used to negate the need for a dedicated fire control radar. The system has a small footprint to enable installation on small ships like offshore patrol vessels, corvettes, and even stationary oil rigs
