While the system is expected to perform brilliantly in countering rockets in real-time, defense officials were careful to stress that it is still in an experimental stage, and requires further fine tuning before becoming fully operational in the coming months.

Israeli anti-rocket system Iron Dome is deployed in Beersheba, southern Israel, on March 27, 2011. Israel on Sunday started deploying two batteries of the Iron Dome anti-rocket system in the southern country, in a bid to foil longer-range Kassam and Grad rockets from putting over a million Israelis within striking range in major urban areas. [Rafael Ben-Ari/Xinhua]

"This system is unique. There is no other like it in the world, and we are working hard to bring it to peak performance," Brig.- Gen. Doron Gavish, who heads the Air Defense Division, told reporters.

"It is also important to emphasize that we are still in the evaluation phase," Gavish said, adding that the deployment was accelerated in light of the recent dramatic increase in rocket attacks.

He said the Air Force plans to deploy the mobile system in several locations around the south in the coming weeks, in accordance with changing operational needs.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also careful to stress that the system will not afford residents of the south full protection against projectiles fired from Gaza.

"I do not want to foster the illusion that Iron Dome will provide a complete or comprehensive answer," Netanyahu said at the cabinet's weekly meeting on Sunday.

"The true answer to the missile threat is a combination of aggressive and deterrent measures, protective measures and a strong stand by the government and the public," Netanyahu said.