Israel to Spend $530M on ‘Iron Beam’ Laser Defense

Israel’s Iron Beam laser system. Photo: Israeli Ministry of Defense
Published October 29, 2024

Israel’s defense ministry said on Monday it had earmarked $530 million to accelerate the development of the laser air defense system known as “Iron Beam.”

“The Ministry of Defence has signed a major deal worth approximately 2 billion shekels to significantly expand procurement of the laser interception systems, ‘Iron Beam,’” a statement said.

The system is aimed at improving the interception of drones and other projectiles, which Hezbollah in Lebanon has fired at Israel since the start of the war in Gaza in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas.

Iron Beam would supplement other aerial defense capacities such as the more well-known Iron Dome.

These have been unable to intercept every projectile launched by the Lebanese armed group, resulting in both civilian and military casualties.

The defense ministry will work with defense companies Rafael and Elbit, the statement said.

It quoted ministry director general Eyal Zamir as saying he hoped the new system would “enter operational service within a year.”

 

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SOURCE: www.thedefensepost.com

RELATED: Israel Acquires ‘Iron Beam’ Laser to Shoot Down Projectiles

Published October 28, 2024

Israel’s defense ministry announced Monday that it had acquired a new laser beam system for downing projectiles — one that will not replace the Iron Dome missiles, but will run alongside it, and that will be much cheaper to operate.

Iron Beam looks like something out of a science fiction movie, but it is real. Developed by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems, with U.S. contractor Lockheed Martin joining in 2022, it will be operational in 2025.

The Israel Ministry of Defense signed a landmark deal worth approximately NIS 2 billion (over $500 million) yesterday (Sunday) to expand serial production of Israel’s first domestically developed laser interception system, the Iron Beam, with lead developers Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems. 

Iron Beam is a ground-based high-power laser air defense system designed to counter aerial threats, including rockets, mortars, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and cruise missiles. The Ministry of Defense’s (IMod) DDR&D’s R&D Unit leads the project with primary developers Rafael and Elbit Systems. The Iron Beam system represents a global technological breakthrough, with its impressive interception capabilities demonstrated through a series of successful trials. The system is expected to integrate into Israel’s multi-layered defense array as a complementary capability to the Iron Dome system. This integration will significantly enhance Israel’s defense capabilities against current and future threats while offering substantially lower operational costs. 

The Times of Israel cautions that the Iron Beam has not performed well in “inclement weather,” and that it is already more than a year overdue. Still, it will allow Israel to counter future threats — and will be used by the U.S. as well.

 

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SOURCE: www.breitbart.com