Monday 02 March 2026 – 10:43 PM
The Israeli occupation has been developing laser air defense systems for decades, with support from the United States and other countries, so that today lasers have become more useful for military uses. The most prominent of these systems is the iron beam, which was introduced to occupation army Late 2025, it is the first operational laser defense platform capable of neutralizing missiles, drones and mortar shells at a much lower cost than traditional interception systems.
New Israel laser
The laser can reach a range of about 10 kilometers, and has a lower operating cost compared to interceptor missiles, allowing low-cost threats to be intercepted more efficiently.
Multiple versions are available, such as the 10-kilowatt LightBeam laser and the 50-kilowatt IronBeam-M, with the possibility of installing it on ground vehicles or drones to expand the operating range.
The system is designed to work in parallel with Israel’s multi-layered air defense system, including Iron Dome and David’s Sling and Arrow.
Use it practically
It was announced in May 2025 that the laser was used to intercept dozens of threats during Israel’s multi-front war, with tests showing its success in neutralizing rockets, drones, and mortar shells.
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems unveiled the “Iron Beam 450” model, which features an aperture width of 450 mm, as part of a group of high-energy laser systems.
System limitations
Despite its capabilities, the laser system suffers from several technical drawbacks:
It relies on a direct view of the target, and it must be clearly visible long enough to hit.
Its effectiveness is affected by weather factors such as rain and dust, and by terrain obstacles such as buildings and mountains.
A single beam cannot be fired at multiple targets at the same time, which makes lasers more suitable for dealing with limited threats.
