Israel uses laser air defense for the first time: Iron Beam system hits Hamas rockets – media
Laser weapons are much cheaper than air defense missiles and can fire indefinitely as long as there is access to electricity, but they have a number of drawbacks, experts say.
The day before, Israel used the Iron Beam laser air defense system to intercept rockets in the Gaza Strip, several years before it was supposed to be deployed. This was reported by Newsweek, citing an army correspondent for Israel’s Channel 14, and the Israeli military did not comment on the use of such weapons.
Iron Beam, a high-powered laser system manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, was designed to intercept drones, missiles, and short-range projectiles. Its deployment was scheduled for 2025 and is aimed at supplementing the existing Israeli Iron Dome air defense system.
The system uses an unlimited supply of shots and can be integrated into several platforms. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called it a “laser wall,” and last year’s tests showed that it successfully destroyed rockets, mortars, drones, and anti-tank missiles.
According to Newsweek, the Iron Ray’s advantage is that it cannot run out of ammunition. This also makes its operation more cost-effective. Iron Dome missiles are estimated to cost about $50,000 each, while the cost of launching an Iron Beam is equal to the cost of electricity used to fire it.
David Hambling, a British military expert, told Newsweek that Iron Beam can keep firing “as long as it has a power source, with a cost per shot of perhaps a dollar. It can quickly switch from one target to another and then strike at the speed of light, quickly shooting down missiles as they fly.”
However, laser weapons are not yet perfect. For example, a laser needs a few seconds to affect an object to destroy it. Another problem was that missiles or drones could be coated with heat-resistant material, rendering the Iron Ray useless. The laser will also not work in bad weather conditions (rain and fog), so engineers still need to work on improving the system.
