Israeli Naval Version of Iron Dome Missile Defense System Completes Trial

The Israel Air Force and Israel Navy have completed a successful trial of its Iron Dome short range missile defense system intercepting rockets fired at sea.

The IDF trial imagined a scenario similar to attempts by terrorist organizations in Gaza to strike marine targets during Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014. During the trial, an Iron Dome battery was placed aboard the Israel Navy's INS Lahav, which fired missiles to intercept both individual rockets and barrages of rockets, Globes reported Monday.

The IDF has completed preparations lasting 18 months aimed at possessing capabilities to intercept rockets fired at marine targets, such as cargo ships, Israel Navy boats and natural gas rigs in the Mediterranean.

Commanders of the trial said this evening that all the targets were intercepted successfully and precisely so that the IDF now has the operational capability of intercepting rockets fired at sea.