Israel to equip its army with Iron Beam combat laser

Israel plans to field a practical air defence laser by 2025.

The laser, a shipping container-sized unit called Iron Beam, will enable the Israeli army to shoot down rockets, drones and mortars at a range of up to 10 kilometres, according to Australian Defence Magazine (ADM).

Israeli defence company Rafael which developed the device said one big advantage of directed energy weapons is they are cheap to operate. Each shot costs a few dollars in electricity, as against the cost of a missile, potentially targeting a low-cost drone.

According to the company, Iron Beam includes no radar or command and control mechanism – it is wholly an effector intended to be integrated into a larger system.

Iron beam delivers more than 100 kilowatts of energy to a coin-sized spot, taking a few seconds to inflict catastrophic damage. Each system comprises two shipping container-sized units, one with two lasers, the other supplying power and cooling.

In an interception, the command unit detects targets and then decides which is the most appropriate effector.