What is the Iron Beam laser anti-air system developed by Israel?

Elbit Systems announced that it has been awarded a contract by the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD), valued at approximately $200 million, to supply high-power laser systems for the advanced “Iron Beam” air defense project.  

This new laser system, known in Hebrew as Magen Or, is designed to enhance Israel’s multi-layered defense strategy by providing a new layer of aerial threat interception. The Iron Beam is poised to integrate into Israel’s multi-layered defense network, complementing the Iron Dome and David’s Sling systems.  

Expanding Israel’s multi-layered air defense 

Israel uses the Iron Dome to intercept short-range rockets fired by groups like Hamas or Hezbollah successfully. However, the Iron Dome is just one part of Israel’s overall defense system. It cannot intercept high-speed ballistic missiles launched by countries like Iran.  

To handle these faster threats, Israel’s Defense Forces rely on the David’s Sling system, created by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the US company Raytheon. This system uses the Stunner missile, which can hit targets between 40 and 300 kilometers away.  

For the longest-range threats, Israel has the Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 missile defense systems, developed by Israeli Aerospace Industries and Boeing. Arrow-2 targets short- and medium-range ballistic missiles using a special warhead, while Arrow-3 intercepts long-range ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere with a direct hit. 

Cost-effective defense against inexpensive threats

(Credit: Rafael)Directed energy systems offer several advantages compared to conventional air defense systems. One key benefit is that their operation is not constrained by ammunition supply, which often needs to be imported, as in the case of the Arrow and David’s Sling missiles jointly produced with the United States. This capability is particularly important in addressing the growing threat posed by swarms of low-cost, loitering munitions designed to saturate air defenses. 

These systems are also cost-effective. For instance, an interception using the Iron Beam, with a power output of 100 kW, reportedly costs only $2, while an interception by the Iron Dome can cost around $50,000 per missile. This is particularly important against inexpensive one-way attack drones that have proven effective in targeting much more expensive and strategic systems.  

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The agreement, signed by the Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Major General Eyal Zamir, will boost production rates of Iron Beam, allowing for faster deployment to defend against various airborne threats, including rockets, drones, and cruise missiles.  

“The Iron Beam deal is one of the most important deals we have signed, as it heralds the beginning of a new era on the battlefield – the laser era,” Zamir said. “The initial ground laser system capability, developed through collaboration between Rafael and Elbit Systems, is anticipated to enter operational service within a year.”  

The dawn of the “laser era” 

The recent deployment of loitering munitions, often referred to as “kamikaze drones,” in conflicts such as the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has spurred several nations to invest in directed energy systems as an efficient, cost-effective countermeasure: 

In October 2024, Boeing announced that its Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS) had successfully engaged and neutralized large drones during a live demonstration at the annual counter-UAS exercise, Red Sands, a joint effort by the US and Saudi militaries.  
In January 2024, the United Kingdom successfully trialed a similar laser weapon against aerial targets at the Ministry of Defence’s Hebrides Range. During this test, organized by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the DragonFire system demonstrated its capability by destroying drones approaching from multiple directions over several kilometers.  
In June 2023, the French Navy, together with the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) and CILAS, conducted trials of the HELMA-P laser weapon system aboard the FDA Forbin in the Mediterranean Sea, marking another significant advance in anti-drone defense. 
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