Within a week of his inauguration, President Trump issued an executive order to develop "The Iron Dome for America" (rebranded the "Golden Dome" a month later.) The eruption of a revived conflict between Israel and Iran in June has only strengthened the case for an American version of the Iron Dome in the eyes of the administration. Trump has often expressed admiration for Israel's Iron Dome, an air defense system that can intercept short-range rockets and artillery over the small nation and that is funded in part by the United States. But in the complicated security landscape confronting the world today, is spectacle the same as safety? This story is from our forthcoming print issue, which is all about security.

Here in northern Israel we hear booms at regular intervals as Iron Dome intercept rockets that Hezbollah fires from southern Lebanon. Israel says it hits more than 90% of its targets. But Iron Dome works because Hezbollah's rockets are crude – and it's possible to calculate where it's rockets will go at take-off and then intercept them. Stopping drones is more complicated. And has in this war become a recurring problem.

Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari discusses Iran's attack on Israel, saying the attacks proved that Iran seeks to "escalate the region." JERUSALEM -- Some of Israel's most advanced military technology was on display over the weekend when its multi-level aerial defense array led the way in striking down an estimated 99% of the more than 350 drones, rockets and missiles that were fired by Iran in an unprecedented attack on the Jewish state. From the Iron Dome, which in its latest format uses artificial intelligence (AI) to improve accuracy when shooting short-range surface-to-surface rockets, to David's Sling, which intercepts short- to medium-range and medium- to long-range surface-to-surface missiles, to the Arrow 2 and 3 systems, which is used for longer-range ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as AI-driven aircraft and other technology, Israel's defensive operation proved it was far superior to the offensive capabilities of the Islamic Republic. In a press briefing following the attack, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari hailed Israel's defensive operation, which was carried out together with partners from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), as a "very significant strategic achievement." He said it demonstrated the "exceptional professionalism" of Israel's Aerial Defense Array and the "defensive abilities of the air force as well as the army's military and technological superiority."

An intricate network of Israel's missile defense tech faced a serious test of its mettle Saturday night, downing '99 percent' of an aerial assault launched from Iran. Approximately 170 Iranian drones, 120 ballistic missiles and over 30 cruise missiles had been launched from the Iranian territory in the attack, soaring over 1,100 miles. Iran's airborne phalanx was repelled by ground-based anti-air missiles with names like the'Iron Dome,' 'David's Sling' and'Arrow-3,' the latest hardware in Israel's frequently updated national defense arsenal. Below, an overview of the equipment Israel has developed, sometimes with the help of American military contractors, and how it keeps bombardments in check. First operational in 2011, Israel's Iron Dome faced its first test over a decade ago, when militants in Gaza fired an estimated 1,500 rockets at Israel over eight days in Nov. 2014 - at least 10 Iron Dome missile batteries are known to exist, total (like this one pictured above) First operational in 2011, Israel's Iron Dome faced its first test over a decade ago, when militants in Gaza fired an estimated 1,500 rockets at Israel over eight days in November of 2014.

On Saturday, Iran launched more than 200 drones and cruise missiles at Israel. As the drones made their way across the Middle East en route to their target, Israel has invoked a number of defense systems to impede their progress. None will be more important than the Iron Dome. The Iron Dome, operational for well over a decade, comprises at least 10 missile-defense batteries strategically distributed around the country. When radar detects incoming objects, it sends that information back to a command-and-control center, which will track the threat to assess whether it's a false alarm, and where it might hit if it's not.

Air, land, and sea-launch-able, the fully autonomous, AI-controlled missile known as the Ice Breaker has finally been revealed. A fifth-generation, self-guided missile designed to attack at long distances and travel extremely close to the ground while resisting electronic jamming and other countermeasures, the stealthy Ice Breaker is set for a field demonstration at the Farnborough International Airshow, July 18-22. In science fiction, high-tech missiles can hug the earth's surface, avoid natural obstacles and enemy ordinance alike, survive electronic jamming efforts, and then use complex machine learning to locate, attack, and destroy their intended target with robotic efficiency. In the real world, and even as hypersonic weapons are beginning to enter the modern theater of war, such theoretical, ultra-smart missiles have yet to come to fruition. More recently, rumors of an air-launched, long-range, self-guided and AI-controlled missile surfaced when Israeli manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems premiered the Ice Breaker's predecessor naval weapon, the Sea Breaker sea-launched missile in 2021.

War is always going to be fought with people and weapons. It is also always going to involve "platforms," such as tanks and the capabilities they have. It is important to understand that in discussions of the future of warfare the issue is not just about the person or the platform but also tying it all together. At the heart of that effort today are attempts to develop better algorithms and artificial intelligence. This will play an increasing role in war, especially in hi-tech militaries, in the future.

The US Army and Marine Corps are set to test tanks with a new version of the iron dome' system developed by the Israeli government. The Trophy Active Protection System (APS) uses sensors to detect an anti tank missile is coming. It then fires small rounds to deflect them, and can also use jammers to mislead the enemy. The system is designed to create a protective field around tanks, shooting down incoming missiles before they detonate. The Trophy Active Protection System (APS) uses sensors to detect an anti tank missile is coming.