The series of tests 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. The 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.
Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant: “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.”
Head of the DDR&D, Brig. Gen. (res.) Dr. Daniel Gold: “These successful tests are one of the many efforts we are carrying out to improve our air and missile defense systems’ preparedness for future threats and improve system performance in the face of existing threats. The campaign’s success further strengthens our confidence in the defense systems and their ability to protect extensive areas as well as the State of Israel’s strategic assets on land and at sea. We will continue working together with the IDF and Israeli defense industries to protect the State of Israel while realizing and preserving the State of Israel’s qualitative advantage.”
Director of DDR&D’s IMDO, Moshe Patel, added: “The Israeli defense establishment is constantly upgrading the Iron Dome’s capabilities on land and at sea to increase its effectiveness. During this current campaign, we successfully tested the Naval Iron Dome’s new capabilities aboard the Sa’ar 6 corvette together with additional systems in Israel’s multi-tier air and missile defense array, including connectivity between systems on board with those on land and a new radar developed to protect Israel’s exclusive economic zone. The system successfully identified various threats, including rockets, UAVs, and cruise missiles, and destroyed them using interceptors launched from onboard the ship at sea, with exceptional precision.