What is it about?
I built a mathematical model to simulate short range missile defense. I then analyzed the behavior of that model, to see what it implies about the behavior of actual missile defense systems. Finally, I used it to evaluate the performance of Israel's Iron Dome system against rocket attacks during Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012.
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Why is it important?
Many researchers have studied how strategic missile defense systems might perform against hypothetical attacks from intercontinental ballistic missiles in the future. But there has been little research on how tactical missile defense systems actually defend against real rocket attacks in the present. This study examines how these short range systems behave. This could help militaries and governments better understand the strengths and weaknesses of these systems.
Perspectives
This study builds on my previous research on naval missile combat.
Dr. Michael J. Armstrong
Brock University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Modeling Short-Range Ballistic Missile Defense and Israel's Iron Dome System, Operations Research, October 2014, INFORMS,
DOI: 10.1287/opre.2014.1309.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Gaza militants' rockets: fewer, less accurate
This news story in the Christian Science Monitor discusses rocket attacks during the initial stages of Israel's Operation Protective Edge in 2014. It quotes me and a professor from MIT.
Rockets were threats, not toys
This op-ed in the Jerusalem Post concerns rocket attacks against Israel during the 2014 Operation Pillar of Defense.
Israel's elaborate civil defences save hundreds of lives
An op-ed in the Winnipeg Free Press concerning 2014 rocket attacks.
Missile countermeasures: North Korea's threat, Israel's experience
This article summarizes Israel's actual responses to rocket attacks and compares them to the United States' potential responses to North Korean missiles.
Accepted manuscript
The accepted manuscript and spreadsheet model are available on Brock University's digital repository.
Gaza’s enhanced rocket technology challenges Israel’s defences
Preliminary analysis of May 2021 Gaza-Israel rocket conflict, in which militants attempted several tactics anticipated by this 2014 study.
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
