CNN —As thousands of rockets have rained down on Israel, the country has been relying once again on the Iron Dome system to protect its citizens. The missile defense system is one of the most important tools in Israel’s arsenal and has saved countless civilian lives over various conflicts in the last decade, analysts say. The Israel Defense Forces said the system boasted a 95.6% success rate during a rocket salvo fired by Islamic Jihad in May. After tests in 2008 and 2009, the first Iron Dome batteries were deployed in 2011. The US government has spent over $1.5 billion on the Iron Dome program, and research related to it as well.

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Persons: IHS Jane’s Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Islamic Jihad, Development, Dome, Raytheon, Center for Strategic, International Studies, IHS Locations: Israel, Gaza, Washington