World's first 'combat-ready' Iron Beam laser deployed to kill drones

Israel has deployed the world’s first operational high-power laser air-defense system, the 100-kilowatt Iron Beam, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Delivered to the Israel Defense Forces and integrated into the air force, Iron Beam complements Israel’s existing multilayered air-defense network, which includes Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow missile systems. The system is designed to counter rockets, mortar shells, drones, and other low-flying threats at a fraction of the cost of traditional missile interceptors, using only a few cents of electricity per shot compared to interceptor missiles costing tens of thousands of dollars each. Iron Beam addresses a critical gap in Israel’s defense by targeting slow, low-flying threats that often evade radar-guided interceptors, thereby reserving missile interceptors for larger and more complex threats. After several weeks of successful testing simulating real combat conditions, the system is expected to significantly enhance Israel’s defensive coverage and reduce interception costs. The laser system, also called Or Eitan