Baghdad, Mar 17 (V7N) – The United States has deployed its advanced C-RAM (Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar) air defense system to protect key installations in Iraq from Iranian attacks, with footage of the system intercepting drones circulating widely on social media.

US forces are using the system to defend the US Embassy and the heavily fortified Green Zone in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, from incoming drone and rocket threats.

Originally developed for naval use to intercept short-range threats such as rockets, mortars, and artillery shells, the land-based C-RAM system has since become a crucial component of US ground defense. It is particularly effective against drones and low-altitude projectiles commonly used in modern conflicts.

Equipped with a powerful radar, the system detects and tracks incoming targets before engaging them with a rapid-fire 20mm automatic gun, capable of firing up to 4,500 rounds per minute. The system also emits warning sirens to alert personnel during incoming attacks.

However, the C-RAM has limitations. Its effective range is relatively short—typically between 1 to 2 kilometers—and it is not designed to counter long-range missile threats. Despite this, its lower operating cost compared to missile-based systems makes it highly effective against waves of low-cost drones and short-range attacks.

The C-RAM system is widely deployed at US embassies, military bases, and forward operating positions around the world, particularly in conflict zones.

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