Israel's 'Iron Dome on the Sea' sees its first combat deployment.

Israel fired its naval version of the Iron Dome air defense system to intercept an object violating its airspace, marking the first combat deployment of this equipment.

"Following air raid sirens in the Eilat area on the evening of April 8th indicating the intrusion of hostile aircraft, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) navy identified a suspicious airborne target flying into territory. The target was subsequently successfully intercepted by the naval air defense system 'C-Dome'," the IDF announced today, adding that no damage or casualties were reported.

The IDF said the object flew into Israeli airspace from the east, but did not confirm whether it was a drone. An IDF official revealed this was the first combat deployment of the C-Dome air defense system since it was put into service in November 2022.

Videos shared on social media show the C-Dome system on a Saar-6 class warship docked at Eilat port launching two interceptor missiles in the middle of the night, creating a series of explosions in the sky.

Israel's 'Iron Dome on the Sea' sees its first combat deployment. — The moment the C-Dome launched an interceptor missile to intercept a UAV on April 8th. Video: *X/manniefabian*

C-Dome is the ship-based version of the Israeli military's Iron Dome air defense system. This system provides 180-degree protection against simultaneous attacks from multiple directions by enemy cruise missiles, rockets, and UAVs.

This system is not large in size, so it can be installed on small warships such as frigates or patrol boats.

The C-Dome consists of three main components: the Tamir interceptor missile, the VLU vertical launch system, and the Control and Surveillance Unit (C2). The C-Dome is integrated with the warship's radar and Combat Management System (CMS), eliminating the need for a dedicated radar for detecting and tracking threats.

The C-Dome system fires during a test in May 2023. Photo: IDF — The C-Dome system fires during a test in May 2023. Photo: *IDF*

The Tamir missile is highly versatile with its ability to quickly change direction, allowing it to intercept even the most maneuverable targets. It is equipped with an active radar seeker and a two-way data link to receive data after launch, thereby enabling trajectory correction and increased accuracy.

The projectile uses a proximity fuse, allowing it to be activated without hitting the target, thus increasing the success rate of interception.

According to the Israeli Ministry of Defence , the Iron Dome system, which uses Tamir missiles, has intercepted 85% of its targets since its deployment in 2011, making it a central component in the country's multi-layered defense network against attacks from pro-Iranian armed groups in the region.

It is unclear which group was behind the April 8 attack on Israel, but the Iranian-backed Islamic Resistance Movement (IRI) in Iraq has been frequently launching drone attacks on the city of Eilat in recent weeks.

On April 1st, a UAV launched by IRI struck a structure at the Eilat naval base, narrowly missing damaging a small Saar 6-class frigate docked there.