The Iron Dome is an Israeli mobile all-weather air defense system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries. It is designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) to 70 kilometers (43 miles) away and whose trajectory would take them to an Israeli populated area. The system uses radar to identify and destroy incoming threats. The Iron Dome is considered the most advanced defense mechanism in the world and has a high success rate of 96% . It has become a bedrock of Israels defense since its introduction in 2011. The system is powered by missile defense batteries, each containing three main components, and can defend across short-range rocket and mortar attacks within a limited area. Israel is protected by 10 Iron Dome batteries, each able to defend up to 60 square miles. The Iron Dome is never used to attack or retaliate and poses no threat to Palestinians. The system has proven very effective at defeating threat rockets launched at protected targets.