Israel Successfully Deploys C-Dome Naval Defence System In First Operational Use: Here's All About It

Israel deployed its C-Dome defence system for the first time against a suspicious aerial target near Eilat, as per a report by The Hindu.

The C-Dome is a naval variant of the Iron Dome air defence system used to protect against rocket and missile attacks.

It is installed on Sa’ar 6-class corvettes, German-made warships, and utilises the same interceptor as the Iron Dome.

While the land-based Iron Dome is commonly used to intercept rockets from Gaza, the C-Dome is designed for naval defence against such attacks at sea.

The Iron Dome is an Israeli short-range defence system designed to intercept rockets, mortars, and artillery. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, it has an intercept range of 2.5 to 43 miles.

The incident occurred on Monday evening when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported an alert in the Eilat area, which had previously been targeted in February by intercepted ballistic missile fire from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, allies of Hamas.

The IDF naval forces identified a suspicious aerial target entering Israeli territory, which was successfully intercepted by the C-Dome system.

The IDF stated that the navy tracked the target and shot it down with the C-Dome system, marking its first operational use. The suspected drone entered Israeli airspace from the eastern direction, but there were no reports of damage or injuries.

The land-based Iron Dome has been used frequently to intercept rockets from Gaza, with each interception costing roughly $50,000.

The C-Dome system consists of TAMIR interceptors, a Vertical-Launch Unit (VLU), and a Command & Control (C2) component.

It uses the vessel’s surveillance radar to detect and track threats, eliminating the need for a dedicated radar.

The interceptor is agile and has a high rate-of-turn, enabling it to intercept even the most manoeuvrable targets. Its proximity fuse maximises lethality, ensuring target destruction.