Tel Aviv: The first operational Iron Beam high power laser air defence system will be deployed somewhere in Israel before the end of the year. The system will work in full coopetition with other kinetic air defence systems.
The R&D Unit within the Israel Ministry of Defence (IMOD) Directorate of Defence Research & Development (DDR&D), the Israeli Air Force (IAF), and Rafael Advanced Defence Systems have successfully completed a series of tests lasting several weeks, demonstrating the capabilities of the Iron Beam high-power laser system, with Elbit Systems serving as a project partner manufacturing the laser source.
Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, President and CEO of Elbit Systems said that the Elbit laser generator is a very special achievement. Elbit is now developing an airborne laser system aimed at working when weather especially heavy clouds limit the effectiveness of the Iron Beam. “We congratulate the successful test of the Iron Beam system and are working on the continued development of an advanced, Israeli-made, high-power military laser, which we believe can bring a change to defence capabilities.”
Elbit Systems has been developing and manufacturing laser solutions for over 40 years, serving air forces worldwide. The development is carried out through ELOP, part of the ISTAR and EW division, which is advancing the development of high-power lasers for both ground and airborne applications.
The test series, conducted at a facility in southern Israel, concludes the development phase and represents the final milestone before delivering the system to the IDF for operational deployment. The system that “shoots” a 100 Mgwt laser beam proved its effectiveness in a complete operational configuration by intercepting rockets, mortars, aircraft, and UAVs across a comprehensive range of operational scenarios. The successful trials mark a critical milestone towards operational deployment, with the first systems set to be integrated into the IDF air defence arrays by year-end.
Iron Beam is a ground-based high-power laser air defence system designed to counter aerial threats, including rockets, mortars, and UAVs. It features an advanced targeting system that enables enhanced operational range, high precision, and superior efficiency while maintaining its unique advantage of rapidly neutralising threats using laser technology at negligible cost. The R&D Unit within the Ministry’s DDR&D has spearheaded the system’s development, working alongside primary developer Rafael.
The Iron Beam system represents a global technological and engineering breakthrough, expected to integrate into Israel’s multi-layered defence array as a complementary capability to the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow air defense systems. The system utilises Rafael’s unique “adaptive optics” technology, enabling a stable, focused, and precise beam.
As announced last May, operational prototypes of Rafael’s short-range tactical laser systems have been deployed throughout the current war and have successfully intercepted and defeated dozens of threats. Now that the Iron Beam’s performance has been proven, we anticipate a significant leap in air defense capabilities through the deployment of these long-range laser weapon systems.
IMOD Director General, Maj Gen (Res.) Amir Baram said that the completion of our high-power laser system development – is a historic milestone for Israel’s defence establishment and defense industries. “This is the first time in the world that a high-power laser interception system has reached full operational maturity, completing numerous interceptions across various simulated operational scenarios. The high-power laser system will integrate within Israel’s multi-layered defence array, further enhancing multi-layered integration with additional missile interceptors through optimal cost-effectiveness and leveraging relative advantages against threat types, ranges, and environmental conditions.”
Head of DDR&D, Brig Gen (Res.) Dr Daniel Gold said that the e Iron Beam system exemplifies the exceptional capabilities of the Israeli defence industries under the DDR&D’s leadership – combining creativity, innovation, and ingenuity with outstanding management and execution.
“We’ve achieved global technological superiority through deployment on the battlefield by successfully integrating conventional defence industries and startup companies. Following these successful trials, we’re confident that combining laser and missile interceptors will significantly strengthen our defence envelope against rockets, missiles, UAVs, and emerging threats,” he said.
Head of the R&D Unit, Brig Gen Yehuda Elmakayes said that completing the Iron Beam capability demonstration marks the dawn of the era of widespread laser systems. “After years of development and engineering led by our R&D Unit, in partnership with the IAF, Rafael, Elbit, and our defence industries, we’ve reached the stage where high-power laser systems are integral to Israel’s air defence array. Through the R&D Unit’s leadership at the DDR&D, Iron Beam will be the first step toward integrating directed energy weapons across all IDF defence and manoeuvring systems.”
Rafael Chairman, Dr Yuval Steinitz, commented, “Rafael is the first and only company worldwide to successfully transform high-power laser technology into a fully mature, operational interception system capable of intercepting missiles and UAVs. We’re immensely proud of Rafael’s leadership in this operational and technological breakthrough. Today’s complex trial results prove that the talented team behind the Iron Dome is again revolutionising warfare with what we call the ‘Laser Dome’. Rafael’s laser system, built on our proprietary adaptive optics technology, will undoubtedly be a game-changing system with unprecedented impact on modern warfare.”
Rafael CEO and President, Yoav Tourgeman said that the company proudly concludes this successful, comprehensive laser system trial series, which included numerous complex scenarios that the system handled excellently.
“Rafael leads the laser interception revolution with operational systems representing the world’s most advanced technology. The ingenuity and boldness of Rafael’s premier scientists and massive R&D investments have produced technological breakthroughs and a globally significant operational-technological achievement. Rafael’s defence and offensive systems continue proving their battlefield effectiveness, contributing significantly to Israel’s security and citizen protection. In the coming months, we’ll deliver the first Iron Beam system from Rafael’s production lines to the defence establishment – a system that will fundamentally change the defence equation by enabling precise, rapid, and cost-effective interception unmatched by any existing system,” Yoav Tourgeman added.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
