Can Iron Dome Stop Cruise Missiles?

The Israel Missile Defense Organization has successfully completed live-fire intercept tests of the Iron Dome and Davids Sling weapon systems against cruise and ballistic missiles. This marks the first time the Iron Dome system intercepted a cruse missile. Before this, the Army fulfilled a congressionally mandated stop-gap called IFPC Increment 1 by purchasing and testing two U.S.-Israeli Iron Dome air defense systems, each including 6 launchers and 240 Tamir missiles. Iron Dome was also tasked with shooting down cruise missiles, UAVs, and a variety of threats.

The consensus to date has been that Iron Dome in itself would be a stopgap measure until the U.S. military could procure or develop a better defense system against the Israel Missile Defense Organization. The Iron Dome is considered a highly effective missile defense system, with its latest success rating of 96% in destroying rockets fired from Gaza in May 2023. However, it would provide little defense against ballistic missiles launched from China, but could be used against cruise missiles launched from Chinese bombers.

The Iron Dome targets unguided rockets that remain at low altitudes, unlike air defense systems designed to stop ballistic missiles. It effectively protects against diverse threats, such as UAS, ballistic and cruise missiles, rockets, artillery, mortars (RAM), and PGMs. The system is designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of 4 to 70 kilometers (2-43 mi) away.

Israel used a multi-layered defense shield to block Iran’s mass drone and missile attack on Israeli territory overnight. Iron Dome has demonstrated some capability in tests and in combat against drones, cruise missiles, and low-flying aircraft, but it was designed to intercept ballistic and cruise missiles.