Since the war between Israel and the militant group Hamas broke out there has been a lot of talk about Israel’s advanced and effective defense mechanism, called the Israel Dome Defence system also known as the Iron Dome and everyone is asking if the technology is so advanced then How did Israel’s renowned Artificial Intelligence system fail to recognize such a huge attack?

Iron Dome: A Mobile Air Defence System

The Iron Dome is a Mobile Air Defence System that can intercept and destroy short-range rockets, mortars, and drones that are fired at Israeli population centers from nearby areas.

It was developed by Israel with US backing and became operational in 2011. It has been used to protect Israeli cities and towns from thousands of rocket attacks, especially from the militant groups Hamas in Gaza.

The Iron Dome consists of three main elements: a launcher with interceptors, a radar that detects incoming projectiles, and a control system that calculates the trajectory and impact point of the threats.

The system only targets the rockets that pose the greatest danger to urban areas and infrastructure, ignoring those that are likely to land in unpopulated areas or the sea.

The system can handle multiple simultaneous threats and provide coverage for up to 155 square kilometers per battery. Each battery has three to four launchers, and each launcher can hold up to 20 interceptors. The interceptors are guided by radar and destroy the rockets in mid-air with a loud explosion.

As per International media reports, the system is one of the most advanced missile defense systems in the world. It has saved countless civilian lives and reduced the damage caused by rocket attacks in the last years.

However, the system is not perfect and cannot stop all the rockets, especially when they are fired in large numbers or from close range.

The system is also expensive, costing about $40,000 per interceptor.

It is important to note that unlike the air defense systems designed to stop ballistic missiles, the Iron Dome targets unguided rockets that remain at low altitudes – the type often fired from Gaza.

During times of war, the cost to operate Iron Dome can rise quickly. Each missile costs around $40,000, so intercepting thousands of incoming rockets adds up.

The US government has spent over $1.5 billion on the Iron Dome program, and research related to it as well. A US official told CNN that Israel will likely request additional interceptors in addition to other military assistance from Washington in the aftermath of Saturday’s attack.

How Hamas Outsmarted Israel’s AI System

There are reports on media regarding why Israel’s AI system did not predict the Saturday attack by Hamas, citing it a biggest failure but there are some possible explanations based on the information available on different international media platforms.

One possibility is that Hamas used a new or improved method of communication and coordination that was not detected or decrypted by Israel’s AI system.

According to a CNN report, Israel has some of the best capabilities to break into encrypted communications, but it is possible that Hamas found a way to evade or counter them. For example, Hamas may have used a different frequency, encryption algorithm, or code language that was not known or accessible to Israel’s AI system.

Alternatively, Hamas may have used more covert or low-tech methods of communication, such as couriers, signals, or pre-arranged plans, that were not intercepted or analyzed by Israel’s AI system.

Another possibility is that Israel’s AI system did not prioritize or alert the relevant authorities about the imminent threat of a large-scale attack by Hamas.

According to a report by The Defense Post, Israel’s AI system uses an AI recommendation system that sifts through vast amounts of data to identify suitable targets for air strikes.

It also uses data from other systems to calculate munitions loads, assign thousands of targets for friendly aircraft and drones, and propose a schedule.

However, it is possible that the AI system did not have enough accurate data to assess the likelihood or severity of a Hamas attack. For example, the AI system may have missed or misinterpreted some indicators of Hamas’s preparations, such as rocket movements, launch sites, or operational commands. Alternatively, the AI system may have had too much conflicting data to process and prioritize, such as false alarms, decoys, or disinformation.

In either case, the AI system may have failed to alert human decision-makers or operators about the need for defensive measures or counter-attacks.

A third possibility is that Israel’s AI system did not have enough time or resources to respond effectively to the Saturday attack by Hamas.

According to a Times Now report, Hamas launched around 5,000 rockets towards southern Israel from the Gaza Strip in a surprise attack.

The attack was unprecedented in its scale and intensity, and overwhelmed Israel’s air defense systems, such as the Iron Dome.

It is possible that Israel’s AI system was not designed or prepared to handle such massive and sudden attack. For example, the AI system may have had limited computing power, storage capacity, or bandwidth to process and transmit the incoming data and commands.

Alternatively, the AI system may have had limited physical resources, such as interceptors, launchers, radars, or drones, to deploy and operate against the incoming rockets.