Israel's New Underground Iron Dome Defense

Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system has thwarted numerous incoming rocket attempts from Hamas. However, with much terrorist activity focused on underground tunnels, Israel is now looking to establish new technology to protect themselves.

Israel’s ministry of defense confirmed this week that the United States has budgeted $120 million over a three-year period to help develop and produce a system to detect tunnels that continue to be built by her enemies.

The project has been described as an underground equivalent of the Iron Dome. It will detect concrete-reinforced tunnels that Hamas has burrowed in the earth along the Gaza border.

Hamas has been rebuilding its underground network which was Israel’s target during the 2014 Operation Protective Edge war.  The Israel Defense Force found and destroyed 32 tunnels in that war. Hamas used the tunnels to ambush soldiers, fire rockets or mortars and carry out operations within Israeli borders. Many of Israel's residents are claiming that they can hear digging underneath their homes.

The United States is leaning on Israel to create this underground detection system so that the U.S. can use it to locate tunnels used by criminal gangs that smuggle illegal immigrants or drugs across the Mexican/U.S. border.