Iron Beam sensor suite / https://www.rafael.co.il/system/iron-beam/, CC BY-SA 3.0
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – Israel has officially deployed its Iron Beam laser-based air defense system in operational field use, marking a historic breakthrough in modern warfare, the Defense Ministry announced Sunday. The system has now transitioned from development and testing into active service with the Israel Defense Forces, becoming the world’s first high-power laser interception platform to reach full operational status.
The Iron Beam project, led by the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), was developed in partnership with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, with Elbit Systems supplying core laser technologies. Officials confirmed that serial production is underway, with multiple batteries set to be deployed nationwide.
In June, the ministry revealed that Israel’s laser defenses had already intercepted roughly 40 Hezbollah drones during combat operations in October 2024. By mid-September, Iron Beam was declared operational, and on December 1, DDR&D head Brig.-Gen. (res.) Daniel Gold announced that full deployment would be completed by December 30.
Unlike earlier systems, Iron Beam can intercept a wide range of aerial threats, including drones, rockets, mortars, and missiles. With laser energy traveling at the speed of light, threats can be neutralized almost immediately after launch — often while still over enemy territory — dramatically reducing the need for air-raid sirens and civilian shelter alerts.
Defense officials emphasized the system’s revolutionary cost advantage. While Arrow interceptors can cost millions of shekels and Iron Dome interceptors tens of thousands, firing Iron Beam costs little more than the electricity required to power the laser. This capability is expected to significantly ease Israel’s defense burden after recent conflicts in which tens of thousands of projectiles were launched from multiple fronts.
The Iron Beam family includes several variants. Lite Beam is a short-range, vehicle-mounted system firing a 10-kilowatt beam. Iron Beam M offers greater mobility with a 50-kilowatt beam mounted on trucks, while the full Iron Beam system delivers a stationary 100-kilowatt beam capable of defending wide areas. Together, they integrate seamlessly with Israel’s layered air defense network alongside Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow.
Defense Minister Israel Katz described the deployment as a “historic milestone” that changes the rules of engagement. Rafael Chairman Yuval Steinitz said the system’s success represents a global scientific breakthrough, while Defense Ministry Director-General Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amir Baram called Iron Beam “the foundation stone of a technological revolution that will reshape battlefields worldwide.”
The system is known in Hebrew as Or Eitan (“Eitan’s Light”), honoring Capt. Eitan Oster, who was killed fighting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon in October 2024. His father, one of the system’s developers, recited the Shehecheyanu blessing during the handover ceremony.
Israel’s achievement places it ahead of other nations—including the United States, Britain, China, and Russia—which are still testing laser defense technologies. Officials say Iron Beam ensures Israel’s continued technological superiority and represents a decisive step into a new era of affordable, high-speed air defense.
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