Israel says it will deploy Iron Beam air defense lasers within a year

JERUSALEM — Iron Beam systems will be integrated into Israel’s air defense network within a year, the Israeli Defense Ministry said Monday.

The announcement came after the government signed a weapons agreement with contractors Rafael and Elbit to speed up development of the Iron Beam directed energy weapon, according to Defense Ministry director general retired Major General Eyal Zamir.

Iron Beam will operate as part of Israel’s air defense system along with Iron Dome batteries, military research director Daniel Gold said. “The combination of laser and missile interception will further tighten defenses against missiles, missiles, drones, cruise missiles and other threats,” he said.

Raphael is the main developer of the Iron Beam system, and Elbit supplies the laser cannon for it. The deal is worth NIS 2 billion ($536 million), with Rafael’s stake valued at around 60% and Elbit’s at 40%.

Iron Beam is a laser air defense system that operates against a variety of airborne threats such as missiles, mortars, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles. It can be programmed to pursue low-flying targets, blasting them with just enough energy to incapacitate them.

It was first presented in February 2014 at the Singapore Air Show, and after proving its capabilities in a series of tests in southern Israel about 3 years ago, it entered service and was adapted to the battlefield.

The price of the Tamir missile, which is an interceptor launched by Iron Dome, is about $100,000, and the cost of intercepting using a laser shield is the price of the electricity used to launch it. Laser interception is intended to revolutionize the economics of air defense, which until now has favored attackers because missiles and drones are cheaper to deploy than to shoot down.

Israel’s air defenses have been coping with drone threats from Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen, as well as tens of thousands of rockets fired into the country since the war against Hamas and affiliated terrorist groups began.

On the other hand, the laser system is more limited than the Iron Dome in its ability to withstand powerful missile attacks, and also has limitations on days when visibility is reduced due to clouds, rain, or sandstorms.