Israel is preparing a laser shield — in five years, Iran's missiles will burn up in the sky

Lasers instead of missiles: cheap protection against cheap threats

Michael Edelstein of Elbit Systems said that Israel's laser systems will be ready for full-scale use in less than five years. Already, on-board laser installations for fighter jets are in the final stages of development. And the Rafael Iron Beam ground-based system has passed real combat tests and will soon enter service with the Israel Defense Forces.

The bottom line is simple: instead of spending millions on interceptor missiles, shoot down cheap missiles and drones with a laser for pennies.

Iron Beam is already working — and it hits exactly

The Iron Beam is not a prototype. It has already been used in conditions close to combat, and has shown high efficiency. The system is capable of intercepting missiles, artillery shells and drones at short ranges. Unlike the Iron Dome, which spends $50-100 thousand per interception, the laser costs only a few dollars per shot.

It works according to the principle: aimed — turned on — burned. And it can work continuously as long as there is electricity.

Onboard lasers for fighter jets are already in development

Elbit is currently completing the creation of compact laser installations that can be installed directly on fighter jets, for example, on the F-16 or future F-35I. This will allow the aircraft to defend against surface–to-air missiles and even attack ground targets.

Imagine: a fighter is flying, sees MANPADS, and destroys it with one pulse. No rocket launch, no noise, no smoke. Just a light, and the target disappears.

Why does this change everything

Israel is currently spending billions on missile defense, but the threat is growing: Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas are all actively using missiles and drones. Lasers are not just a new weapon, they are a change in the defense economy.

One Iron Beam will be able to intercept hundreds of targets per day. And a network of such systems will make the country virtually invulnerable to massive attacks. And most importantly, it costs many times less than current systems.

Sources

1. Rossiyskaya Gazeta — how Israel plans to use lasers to destroy incoming missiles
2. Lenta.ru — Israel to field Iron Beam laser; contract details & performance
3. Building-Tech.org — Iron Beam laser shield for intercepting & destroying air threats
4. Wikipedia — Iron Beam mine & drone interception laser weapon
5. Lechaim.ru (via Ynetnews) — first combat intercept of Hezbollah drones with Iron Beam
6. Aurora Israel — world-first operational Iron Beam intercept, Israel’s technological milestone

Elbit Systems is developing an aviation version of the Iron Beam laser system for Israeli fighter jets

Israel launches laser weapons into the air: Elbit is working on an aerial version of Iron Beam

The Israeli defense concern Elbit Systems has begun developing an aviation modification of the Iron Beam laser missile defense system. While the ground-based version of the system is already being tested as part of the Iron Dome ecosystem, its technology is now being adapted for installation on board Israeli Air Force combat aircraft.

This step marks the transition from ground-based laser systems to aerial platforms capable of protecting not only stationary objects, but also aircraft themselves from drones, missiles and other small-scale threats.

How does the Iron Beam work and why is it important to get it into the air

Iron Beam is a directed energy system that uses a high—power laser to destroy targets at short ranges. It is effective against:

Tactical Drones (UAV)

Rockets (like Qassam)

of Small cruise missiles

On the ground, the system complements Iron Dome radars and missiles, reducing the cost of interception. In the air, its task is to defend the fighter and protect a group of aircraft from drone attacks, especially in conditions of intense electronic warfare, where traditional means can be suppressed.

Possible platforms: F-16, F-15 and F-Although Elbit Systems does not officially disclose which aircraft will be equipped with the aerial Iron Beam, analysts suggest that potential carriers may be:

The F-16 Barak is the backbone of the Air Force fleet and is being actively upgraded

The F-15 Baz is a heavy fighter aircraft with high energy output

The F-35 Adir is a fifth—generation stealth fighter where compactness and stealth are critical.

For the F-35, laser integration is particularly relevant: it will allow maintaining low radar visibility without using external suspensions, and at the same time increase survivability in the face of growing threats from drones.

Technical challenges and prospects

Transferring a laser system to an aircraft is a difficult engineering task. She demands:

A compact but powerful laser module

Efficient cooling system

Reliable energy source

High-precision vibration and speed guidance system

However, advances in laser miniaturization and the development of solid-state systems make the project realistic. According to experts, the first tests on the pilot platform may begin as early as 2026-2027.

Israel's missile defense arsenal depleted in five days of Iranian strikes

The Israeli missile defense system, including the Arrow complexes, has faced serious depletion of interceptor missile stocks in just five days of intense Iranian missile attacks. According to The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, without operational replenishment from the United States, Israel will be able to maintain its defenses for only about 10-12 days while maintaining the current rate of shelling.

Arrow complexes designed to intercept ballistic missiles are a key element of the Israeli missile defense system. However, due to the high intensity and duration of Iranian missile attacks, stocks of expensive interceptor missiles are rapidly declining. The US Department of Defense confirmed that Arrow stocks are running out, and if the conflict drags on, Israel's ability to repel attacks will decrease significantly.

Israel denies official reports of the final depletion of stocks, but experts note that the system is already overloaded and will soon have to choose which targets to intercept and which to skip. In response to this situation, Israel began using the Iron Ray laser air defense system to intercept missiles and drones, indicating attempts to compensate for the shortage of interceptor missiles.

The conflict between Israel and Iran continues for the fifth day. Israel is conducting Operation Rising Lion, attacking Iran's nuclear and military facilities, while Tehran is responding with massive missile strikes. Under such conditions, the Israeli missile defense system is under unprecedented strain, which jeopardizes the effectiveness of the country's defense.

In general, the depletion of stocks of Arrow interceptor missiles poses serious challenges for Israel in ensuring national security and requires urgent international cooperation and replenishment of weapons.

Israel's Iron Ray missile defense system is preparing for crucial tests

 Iron Beam

The flagship of the Israeli military industry, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, will soon conduct crucial tests of the Iron Beam tactical laser missile defense system. This innovative system is designed to intercept ultra—short-range missiles - up to 10 kilometers, as well as to combat mortar shells and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The Iron Ray uses a powerful laser beam with a power of about 100 kilowatts, which focuses on the target, causing it to heat up and destroy. The system is capable of automatically detecting and defeating threats using artificial intelligence-based algorithms, which ensures high reaction speed and accuracy. The main advantage of the Iron Beam is its cost-effectiveness: the cost of a single laser shot is only 5-10 dollars, while launching an Iron Dome rocket system costs about 30 thousand dollars.

Tests scheduled for 2025 will determine the possibility of adopting the system for the IDF in the last quarter of this year. The main technical difficulty remains the attenuation of the laser beam due to weather conditions - clouds, fog and rain reduce the efficiency of the system. In addition, the Iron Beam is capable of hitting only one target at a time, which requires its integration with other air defense systems, such as the Iron Dome, for comprehensive protection against massive attacks.

The system is available in three versions: mobile, stationary and marine, which expands the possibilities of its application. There has already been interest in Iron Beam from countries such as the USA, Singapore and the UAE, which indicates the high international potential of this technology.

The Iron Ray will be an important addition to Israel's existing air defense systems, strengthening protection against missile and drone threats and reducing defense costs. Development began in the early 2010s, and the first combat tests took place in 2022, including the successful interception of a mortar shell.

Thus, Iron Beam represents a technological breakthrough in the field of directed energy weapons and sets new standards in missile defense.