Israel announces 1st successful interception using Iron Dome naval system

JERUSALEM

The Israeli army announced Tuesday the first operational interception of an aerial target using the naval version of the Iron Dome system.

''A ship-mounted version of the Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted a drone that entered Israeli airspace near the southernmost city of Eilat shortly before midnight on Monday,'' the army said in a statement.

It said drone infiltration sirens had sounded in Eilat after the drone entered Israeli airspace from the east.

“The Navy tracked the drone before successfully shooting it down with the C-Dome system,” it added.

The C-Dome is a maritime air defense system designed to intercept missiles, shells, and drones.

The Israeli army has several missile defense systems developed in collaboration with the US Department of Defense.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul