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The Iron Dome Military Revolution
(Wall Street Journal) Michael Oren - From drawing board to deployment in 2011, Israel completed the Iron Dome in three years. The first two batteries - developed and financed entirely by Israel - took down dozens of Hamas rockets, making Iron Dome the first antimissile system ever to succeed in combat. The generous support of President Obama and the U.S. Congress enabled the construction of four additional batteries. Ultimately, 10 to 13 batteries will be needed to defend the entire country. Israeli engineers combined cutting-edge tracking radar with electro-optic sensors, mounting them on highly mobile, all-weather air-defense systems. (As part of our vast alliance with the U.S., we have offered to share this pioneering technology.) By neutralizing most rockets headed for populated areas, the Iron Dome gives decision makers invaluable time to find diplomatic solutions. By denying the terrorists a decisive offensive advantage, Iron Dome will save lives and prevent wars. During Israel's recent Operation Pillar of Defense, the terrorists fired 1,500 rockets, some aimed at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Iron Dome downed nearly 85% of those headed toward populated areas. Combined with Israel's world-class civil-defense system, Iron Dome thwarted the terrorists' aim to wreak intolerable damage. The writer is Israel's ambassador to the U.S.