Israeli Defense Ministry deploys the “Iron Beam,” a high-powered laser
The Ministry of Defense and Rafael have delivered the high energy laser defense system, which can intercept threats at a fraction of the price of Iron Dome.
After a complex development process, Israel’s Ministry of Defense Directorate of Defense R&D (DDR&D) (MAFAT) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems this morning delivered the first Iron Beam high energy laser defense system to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The system, which has proven its effectiveness in an extensive series of trials against a variety of threats, and has successfully intercepted rockets, mortars and drones, is being received by the Israel Air Force and integrated into Israel’s multi-layered defense system, as a complementary capability to the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and the Arrow air missile defense systems.
The official handover ceremony was held at the Rafael facility in the presence of Minister of Defense Israel Katz. The ceremony was attended by Dov Oster, a MAFAT employee who was one of the system’s developers and the father of the late Captain Eitan Oster, who fell in battle in southern Lebanon during the war and whose name the system now bears – Or Eitan.
Iron Beam represents a world-class technological and engineering breakthrough. It is a powerful laser system for protection against aerial threats (rockets, mortar bombs, unmanned aerial vehicles, etc.). The system is equipped with an advanced laser source and a unique electro-optical aiming system, which allows it to intercept a wide range of targets with an upgraded operating range, maximum accuracy and very high efficiency, all at a negligible cost – which is the main advantage of the laser system
The system is intended to complement Iron Dome, with both being operated from the same control vehicle. The Iron Dome is an interception system for rocket threats within a range of 40 kilometers, while Iron Beam will have a range of up to 10 kilometers, using a powerful laser beam with a power of about 100 kilowatts.
