Israel is fighting on multiple fronts, with its powerful defense system protecting its people from incoming missile attacks. For Israel, this is not just a matter of destroying enemies in combat, but also a war of economic attrition due to the high cost of intercepting missiles. However, a new era of warfare has been ushered in by an agreement signed by Israel this week to advance the production of the “Iron Beam” laser interception system, marking a significant breakthrough in Israel’s anti-missile technology.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced this week that it has signed a $2 billion Shekel (5.36 billion USD) agreement with the Israeli state-owned companies Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems to expand the production of the new laser missile defense system known as “Iron Beam.” This system will be integrated into Israel’s air defense network within a year.
So, what makes the powerful laser interception system named “Iron Beam” so unique that the Ministry of Defense is investing heavily in its swift deployment?
Over the past year, Israel has faced rocket attacks, missile threats, and drone incursions on multiple fronts, prompting the use of a range of interconnected layered defense systems. The newest addition to Israel’s defense systems, the “Iron Beam” laser defense system, is set to be operational within a year, heralding a “new era of warfare,” according to Israeli officials.
The “Iron Beam” is a robust laser solution designed to enhance defense capabilities against various aerial threats such as rockets, mortar shells, drones, and cruise missiles. It will serve as a powerful complement to the existing “Iron Dome” system, further strengthening Israel’s multi-layered defense system.
According to Rafael, the “Iron Beam” system is a 100kw class high-energy laser weapon system (HELWS) and is expected to be the first of its kind to be deployed. The system is capable of quickly and effectively targeting and neutralizing various threats within a range of hundreds of meters to several kilometers. The interception cost is almost zero, with minimal collateral damage, as the interception takes place at the speed of light without restrictions on ammunition, they stated.
The combination of laser interception and missile defense, operating in conjunction with the “Iron Dome” air defense system, will further enhance Israel’s defense capabilities against threats such as rockets, missiles, drones, cruise missiles, and other airborne threats, explained military research director Daniel Gold.
U.S. Defense News reports that the “Iron Beam” laser system can also be programmed to track and destroy low-flying targets with enough energy to incapacitate them, giving it an advantage over traditional air defense systems.
Compared to traditional missile interception methods, laser interceptors are not only cost-effective but also have several operational advantages. Israeli defense officials highlight that as long as the laser has a continuous power supply, there is no risk of running out of ammunition, making it a potential “game-changer” in countering enemy missile attacks.
Israel unveiled a prototype of the “Iron Beam” in 2021 and has been working towards its deployment since then. Israeli media reports that the system, a technological breakthrough on a global scale, has demonstrated its interception capabilities in various tests. Rafael recently mentioned the system is expected to be operational in the second half of next year.
The Ministry of Defense of Israel emphasizes that the system provides an “effective, accurate, and cost-friendly tool to counter the threats facing Israel, surpassing any existing protection in terms of affordability.”
Laser interception is set to revolutionize the economic aspect of air defense systems, with attackers facing lower costs in launching missiles or drones compared to defenders bringing them down, as reported by “Defense News.”
Facing missile and drone attacks from multiple fronts, Israeli air defense systems have been put to the test. Since Hamas invaded on October 7 last year and carried out massacres in southern Israeli communities, more than 26,000 rockets, missiles, and drones have been fired into Israeli territory from various fronts. Of these, 13,200 were fired from Gaza, 12,400 from Lebanon, 60 from Syria, 180 from Yemen, and 400 from Iran.
Most of the projectiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome system or landed in uninhabited areas. Experts estimate that the cost of each Iron Dome interceptor missile is approximately $50,000 or even more.
Yehoshua Kalisky, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), stated that Israel typically launches two missiles for each interception.
The “Iron Beam” laser system is expected to significantly reduce Israel’s interception costs and economic burdens, with the main cost being the electricity to power the laser.
One main drawback of laser systems is their difficulty in operating under low visibility conditions, such as thick cloud cover or adverse weather. To address this issue, the Ministry of Defense plans to install the system on aircraft to circumvent this limitation by placing the system above the clouds. However, officials acknowledge that this development will take some time.
In 2022, the U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin signed an agreement with Rafael to join the development process of “Iron Beam,” aiming to produce a variant of the system for the U.S. market.
Experts say that, both in terms of effectiveness and cost, the “Iron Beam” can provide an additional layer of defense for Israel, as reported by CNN.