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"Iron Beam" to Counter Hezbollah Drones.. Israel Invests in Laser Weapons
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Israel's massive investment in laser technology reflects its recognition of Iron Dome's limitations in addressing increasing threats from the northern front
The Israeli Ministry of Defense has allocated about 530 million dollars to accelerate the development of an advanced defensive system based on laser technology, known as "Iron Beam".
The ministry stated that it "signed a major deal worth approximately 2 billion shekels to significantly expand the procurement of laser interception systems," in collaboration with defense companies Rafael and Elbit.
Ministry Director General Eyal Zamir expressed in the statement his hope that the new system would "enter service within a year," specifically targeting drones launched by Hezbollah.
Elbit Systems revealed securing a $200 million contract to develop "Iron Beam," which will complement Israel's multi-layered air defense system.
This new technology integrates with the "Iron Dome," which has shown limitations in intercepting all Hezbollah projectiles, resulting in civilian and military casualties.
Israel received $8.7 billion in U.S. military aid in late September, of which $5.2 billion was allocated for developing air defense systems, including the laser system.
The Ministry of Defense conducted a successful test of the system in 2021, with video footage showing its ability to shoot down a drone using a laser beam.
Israeli air defenses have a multi-layered missile shield that intercepted large groups of missiles launched by Iran during its attack on Israel on October 1st.
The Iron Dome system provides short-range protection against missiles and projectiles, while David's Sling and successive generations of Arrow missiles, considered Israeli-American technology, receive billions of dollars in U.S. aid to intercept ballistic missiles.
Levant-Agencies
