Israel's $500M laser defense: Iron beam to debut in a year
Iron Beam, a laser air defense system, is expected to enter service within a year to protect Israel's airspace. The country's Ministry of Defense has just signed contracts for the production and delivery of the system with Elbit Systems and Rafael, valued at $500 million. Iron Beam, which employs a 100 kW laser beam, will be capable of destroying a wide range of targets. Notably, a single shot from this laser is projected to cost only $3.50.
4:37 PM EDT, October 29, 2024
Under a $200 million contract, Elbit Systems is responsible for providing the laser equipment and its maintenance for the Iron Beam system. Meanwhile, Israeli company Rafael has signed a $300 million contract with the Ministry of Defense and will be the final executor of this weapon. The signing of these contracts is anticipated to significantly accelerate the production of the first series of laser systems.
Iron Beam: A laser weapon that will make the world envy Israel
As The Times of Israel reported, Eyal Zamir, Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Defense, stated that the first ground-based laser systems are expected to become operational in a year. He noted, "The Iron Beam deal is one of the most important deals we have signed, as it heralds the beginning of a new era on the battlefield – the laser era" This solution aims to complement the capabilities of the renowned Iron Dome, Israel's short-range defense system. Along with its maritime counterpart, C-Dome, it forms the lowest layer of Israel's missile defense shield.
The system was first unveiled at the Singapore Airshow in February 2014. Over the subsequent years, Israel worked intensively on its development. In March 2022, Iron Beam underwent tests by the Israel Defense Forces, which confirmed its effectiveness in combating drones, mortars, and projectiles. The following year, as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict escalated and Hamas attacks intensified, Israel further accelerated the deployment of this weapon.
Effective anti-drone system
Iron Beam's responsibilities will include intercepting artillery shells, mortar rounds, and drones within a range of several hundred meters to up to 4 miles. This will be achieved through a 100 kW laser beam directed at the target. According to the producers, it takes approximately four seconds to eliminate a hostile object appearing in Israeli airspace. Importantly, Iron Beam can be programmed to track low-flying targets, an increasingly significant challenge on the modern battlefield, as highlighted by the growing role of drones during the war in Ukraine.
The laser air defense system is expected to be significantly more cost-effective than traditional solutions. In 2022, then-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett mentioned on Twitter (now X) that a single laser shot would cost about $3.50. Defense News points out that this minimal cost is primarily due to the electricity used to fire the laser. The cost of a Tamir interceptor missile, used by the Iron Dome air defense system, is approximately $40,000–$50,000.
