Since the start of the war, Israel has faced multiple and complex aerial threats. To safeguard the nation’s airspace and ensure the safety of its citizens, the air defense system and the Home Front Command operate in close and effective cooperation. This process, which begins with threat detection and ends with a successful interception, unfolds at lightning speed, requiring precise coordination among all involved.
Major N., commander of Ballistic Picture Management Center (BPMC) 66, explains the process: “It starts with the detection of a hostile launch by the Air Force systems. From the moment of detection, it’s a matter of seconds. We sit alongside Home Front Command teams, with the top priority being speed.”
Major N. and his team play a critical role in the defense chain. He describes the decision-making process: “I see the details of the launch in our systems and assess if there is a danger. If there’s a risk to human life, we immediately issue a warning.” This decision is typically made within 3-5 seconds, after which sirens are activated in the relevant areas across the country.
Once the warning is issued, the work continues. The battery crew and Home Front Command operations center monitor potential locations for falling rocket debris and provide additional warnings to ensure civilian safety at every stage.
Simultaneously, the interception process itself is carried out. Lieutenant Y., from the Air Defense Command in the north, emphasizes the importance of the human element: “Iron Dome is not an automatic system. Commanders are responsible for launching the interceptor, while soldiers on the ground ensure that our defense capabilities are not compromised.”
Despite the heavy workload and intense pressure, the teams work continuously with dedication. Major N. reflects on the sense of duty that drives them: “When dealing with multiple fronts simultaneously, you have to stay fully focused. And no matter how many hours, days, or months we are here, hearing about a family that reached a shelter in time and was saved because of our alert—makes it all worth it.”
Behind every alert that reaches Israeli citizens’ phones is a complex and sophisticated system operated by skilled and dedicated teams. The joint work of the air defense system and the Home Front Command allows Israel to successfully contend with the numerous aerial threats while ensuring the safety of its citizens and maintaining as much normalcy as possible.
