 "A part of Iron Beam laser anti-missile interception system, developed by Israel, is seen in this handout image obtained by Reuters on September 17, 2025. Image/Israel Defence Ministry")
Israel has announced that its highly anticipated high-energy laser defence system, Iron Beam, has completed final testing and will be deployed by the end of this year.
The development is being hailed as a major leap forward in modern warfare, offering a low-cost way to neutralise incoming threats such as rockets, drones and mortars.
Officials say Iron Beam represents the world’s first fully operational high-power laser interception platform, and it is set to transform Israel’s layered air defence strategy at a time when the country faces sustained attacks on multiple fronts.
How Iron Beam reached operational readiness
Iron Beam, known in Hebrew as Or Eitan (“Eitan’s light”), was first unveiled by Israeli defence contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems at the Singapore Airshow in February 2014.
At the time, it was introduced as a directed-energy weapon designed to handle short-range threats that conventional missile-based defence systems could not always intercept efficiently or economically.
The system has now reached the point of operational deployment. In its final series of tests, conducted over several weeks in southern Israel, Iron Beam successfully neutralised a wide variety of targets, including rockets, mortars, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and even low-flying aircraft.
These demonstrations validated its capabilities across a comprehensive range of combat scenarios, according to the Israeli Defence Ministry.
Defence Ministry Director-General Amir Baram highlighted the historic nature of the achievement, stating, “This is the first time in the world that a high-power laser interception system has reached full operational maturity.”
The system will now be delivered to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and integrated into the country’s broader missile defence framework by later this year.
Defence Minister Israel Katz described the milestone as “a historic milestone” and praised Iron Beam for providing “rapid, precise interception at marginal cost that joins our existing defence systems and changes the threat equation.”
How Iron Beam will complement existing defence layers
Iron Beam will not replace Israel’s other defence systems such as Iron Dome, David’s Sling, or the Arrow missile interceptors. Instead, it will add another layer to the country’s multi-tiered defence network.
While Iron Dome has been highly effective at intercepting rockets from groups like Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, it relies on costly missile interceptors, each of which costs at least $50,000.
In high-intensity conflicts involving thousands of incoming projectiles, this cost becomes difficult to sustain over time.
Iron Beam addresses this problem by focusing on threats at the shorter end of the range spectrum — small rockets, drones, mortars, and similar low-cost munitions.
These are precisely the types of weapons frequently used by militant groups, often launched in swarms designed to overwhelm traditional missile defence systems.
As long as there is an adequate power supply, Iron Beam can keep firing without running out of ammunition. This makes it especially valuable during prolonged attacks, where missile-based defences might otherwise deplete their interceptor stockpiles.
Rafael Chairman Yuval Steinitz highlighted the broader implications of the system, saying, “Iron Beam, which is built with the company’s adaptive optics technology, will undoubtedly be a game-changing system with unprecedented impact on modern warfare.”
How Iron Beam works
The core of Iron Beam’s capability lies in its fiber laser technology, which generates a highly concentrated beam of energy.
When a threat is detected, the system tracks it and directs multiple smaller beams to converge on a single point. These beams individually encounter less atmospheric interference, allowing for greater precision and faster destruction of the target.
Once the laser energy is concentrated on the target, it can neutralise it within approximately four seconds. The system’s maximum effective range is estimated at around 10 kilometres (6.2 miles), making it ideal for defending specific areas such as cities, military bases, or critical infrastructure.
The Defence Ministry confirmed that the latest version of the system, Iron Beam 450, offers extended range and enhanced response times.
Rafael has also developed several variants to meet different operational needs:
Iron Beam 450 – the most powerful version, with extended range and advanced optics.
Iron Beam M – a mobile, truck-mounted version for flexible ground deployment.
Lite Beam – a smaller unit designed for armored vehicles and rapid-response teams.
Maritime version – intended for use aboard naval vessels to protect against drone or missile attacks at sea.
The cost per laser shot is minimal compared to traditional missiles. Some estimates put the direct operating cost as low as $3 to $5 per interception, while even accounting for all related expenses, a single engagement would total around $2,000.
By contrast, missile interceptors can range from $50,000 to as much as $150,000 each.
However, there are technical limitations. Lasers are dependent on clear atmospheric conditions, meaning their performance can be degraded by fog, clouds, heavy rain, or sandstorms.
This factor requires commanders to integrate Iron Beam alongside other defence systems to ensure continuous coverage.
In a symbolic move, the Defence Ministry announced that the system would be officially renamed Or Eitan, or “Eitan’s light,” in memory of Captain Eitan Oster, a 22-year-old commando who was killed during operations in southern Lebanon in October 2024.
Oster’s father, a senior figure in the Defence Ministry’s Directorate of Defence Research and Development, played a key role in the Iron Beam project.
With final trials now complete, the focus shifts to integrating Iron Beam into active service.
The first operational batteries will be delivered to the IDF before the year ends, where they will be deployed alongside Iron Dome and other systems to provide comprehensive coverage.
According to Rafael’s official announcement, the Iron Beam 450 demonstrated “unmatched speed, precision, and near-zero cost per engagement” during its final tests.
While initial deployment will focus on protecting key Israeli cities and military installations, the long-term plan envisions expanding coverage to naval fleets and frontline units.
How Israel has defended the need for Iron Beam
Israel’s need for a cost-effective defence solution has grown significantly in recent years. Two years ago, Hamas gunmen carried out a large-scale attack, killing 1,200 people, abducting 250 others, and launching approximately 3,000 missiles in a single day.
This marked the beginning of a prolonged conflict that has since expanded into a multi-front war involving Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi forces in Yemen.
Since then, tens of thousands of projectiles — including rockets and UAVs — have been fired at Israeli territory. While Iron Dome and other systems have provided a strong shield, the sheer volume of attacks has placed enormous financial strain on defence resources.
Developing Iron Beam was seen as essential to maintaining sustainable defence capabilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently stated that Israel must achieve greater security independence due to growing diplomatic isolation.
The introduction of a domestically produced laser defence system directly supports this strategic goal.
The Defence Ministry also confirmed that a lower-powered version of Iron Beam has already been used in actual combat.
In 2024, this earlier model was reportedly responsible for downing approximately 35 drones launched by Hezbollah, providing an early proof-of-concept for the technology.
What next for Israel’s defence network
While Iron Beam is a domestically developed Israeli system, Rafael has also partnered with Lockheed Martin to explore future improvements.
Announced in December 2022, this collaboration aims to create a next-generation laser platform capable of combining multiple solid-state lasers to achieve power levels up to 300 kilowatts.
This would enable simultaneous targeting of multiple incoming threats, further expanding the system’s defensive capabilities.
Globally, several nations are pursuing directed-energy weapons due to their potential to reduce reliance on expensive munitions. However, scaling the technology for reliable battlefield use has proven challenging.
Although other countries are developing similar systems, Israel is now the first to field a fully operational, high-power laser defence platform.
Elbit Systems CEO Bezhalel Machlis revealed that the company is also working on airborne laser technologies, which could represent the next stage of development.
These systems would potentially allow aircraft to engage incoming threats from above, adding yet another layer to Israel’s defensive strategy.
“First and foremost an airborne laser that holds the potential for a strategic change in air defence capabilities,” Machlis explained, pointing out that future designs could be deployed across multiple domains — land, sea, and air.
The flexibility of Iron Beam’s architecture means it can be adapted for mobile units, naval deployments, and even potentially space-based applications in the future.
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With inputs from agencies