Israel says it has successfully tested a system to intercept short-distance rockets and plans to deploy it later this year. Defence ministry officials said the system is designed to stop incoming projectiles, such as the rockets fired at Israel by Palestinian militants in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Ministry said it would change Israel's strategic position. The missile shield, developed by state-owned Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd, uses radar-guided missiles to blow up rockets and mortars in mid-air. <br/><br/>It is able to distinguish between projectiles on course to hit populated areas, and ones expected to land on open ground. Military experts say "Iron Dome" is effective at distances of about 5 kilometres to 70 kilometres from the point of launch. They say it is the first system in the world to cover this type of range, although systems exist that defend against very short range and longer range missiles.