Israel reportedly aims to debut its newest laser weapon system to increase its air defense capabilities against the ongoing conflict between the Palestinian group Hamas, as reported by Interesting Engineering.
The newest laser beam system is designed to operate as the Israeli integrated missile defense system's short-range component, able to fire down incoming rockets, drones, artillery, and mortar bombs.
Israel's real-life laser beam, officially called Magen or 'Light Shield,' is a High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) of 100kW class and is anticipated to be the first operational system of its kind.
(Photo : Screenshot from Twitter post of @musthafaaa)
Israel To Show Iron Beam Laser Weapon's Efficiency To US President Joe Biden.
'Iron Beam' according to its developer website 'Rafael' stated that it can intercept various threats ranging from a few hundred meters to kilometers. It also supports various advantages: it uses a limitless magazine, does little collateral damage, and costs nearly nothing for each intercept to protect military units and civilian populations.
During its previous tests and showcases, the real-life laser beam reportedly has been praised for its accuracy by the executive vice president of Rafael's land and naval division, Ran Gozali. The official said the laser beam system can focus "to the diameter of a coin in a 10-kilometer range."
Iron Beam's Start and Implications
Israel's Directorate of Defense Research and Development of the Israeli government financed and invested in the technology back in 2022 when the laser beam's developer had a demonstration intercepting mortars, rockets, and anti-tank missiles in a variety of live-fire tests that Rafael claims were successful.
Israel reportedly allocated over 500 million shekels ($148 million) on the laser-based missile interceptor last August 2022 that was meant to spread over six years. 'Iron Beam' was not initially expected to be utilized this year as Rafael's executive vice president previously projected it could be deployed by the Israeli military by 2025.
Expert Jean-Loup Samaan, a former advisor for the French Ministry of Defense and NATO, previously stated in a publication that the use of the 'Iron Beam' might drastically lessen the cost of current systems like Iron Dome. Still, the expert remained concerned about its technical uncertainties, stating that it might not yet represent a paradigm shift in missile defense tactics.
Read Also: Israel's C-Dome: Naval Air Defense System to Protect its Gas and Shipping Lanes Finishes Tests
Israel's Defenses
Israel's recent upgrade to its missile defense system follows its ongoing conflict with the Palestinian group Hamas, after reportedly more than an estimated 2,200 rockets were fired in a surprise multipronged attack on October 7. The country failed to defend against the surprise rocket attack due to the sheer number of rockets deployed during the surprise attack.
Hamas gathered over time a sizable number of reasonably priced missiles that it knew would outnumber Israel's advanced military defense mechanism, 'Iron Dome.' A less expensive, less capable strategy was successful in overpowering a more expensive, high-tech apparatus.CNBC reports that the death tally during the conflict saw "at least 1,300 killed in Israel and 2,300 in Gaza."
Hamas reportedly orchestrated the attack as a response to resentment toward Israeli policy, notably recent escalations of violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, but more broadly toward how Palestinians are treated and growing Israeli settlements.
Related Article: Israel's Iron Dome: How the Defense System Safeguards Against Rocket Threats
