In recent months, Israel has successfully deployed a new laser system for drone defense – for the first time under real combat conditions. According to the army, several dozen enemy aircraft have been shot down since October 2023. The majority of these missions were directed against Hezbollah drones, but the system has also been deployed on other fronts.
A compact preliminary version of the planned high-energy “Iron Beam” laser was deployed, which is still in the final stages of development and is expected to be officially introduced later this year. The system currently in use is based on the same technology but was developed at an accelerated pace during the war – in close cooperation between the Air Force, the Ministry of Defense, and the defense company Rafael.
במהלך מלחמת ״חרבות ברזל״ לוחמי ההגנה האווירית יירטו לראשונה עשרות מטרות בעזרת מערכות הלייזר: בחיל-האוויר, במפא״ת במשרד הביטחון ובחברת רפאל הובילו במהלך המלחמה תהליך פיתוח להפעלת מערכות יירוט חדשות באמצעות לייזר. pic.twitter.com/4MPOvBZQRi
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) May 28, 2025
According to the Israel Defense Forces, the laser system was used by units of the Air Defense Command under real-world fire. During the battles, the troops not only tested the innovative technology, but also achieved an exceptionally high success rate, which contributed significantly to repelling enemy attacks and protecting critical infrastructure.
Daniel Gold, head of the Military Research and Development Agency and known for his involvement in the Iron Dome project, emphasized the significance of this technological breakthrough. Israel is the first country in the world to possess an operational laser weapon for air defense. Decades of basic research at Rafael and the DDRD have now made this capability operational.
Rafael board member Yuval Steinitz also emphasized the significance of the new generation of weapons. This precise, rapid, and cost-effective defense against air threats fundamentally changes the rules of the game on the modern battlefield. “The successful use of this technology in the ongoing war demonstrates its strategic importance,” said Steinitz.
The deployed system is not identical to the “Iron Beam” announced for deployment in the coming months, but rather a scaled-down version that was deployed earlier than planned due to the escalating threat situation. However, both systems share key technological components.
The commander of the air defense unit, Brigadier General G., praised his soldiers for their professional and flexible use of the new technology. Despite constant shelling, they demonstrated that state-of-the-art defense systems can be effectively deployed to protect the population, even under difficult conditions.
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