Articles tagged with "missile-defense"
Iron Beam: Israel’s Laser Weapon That Shoots Down Rockets & Drones
Iron Beam is Israel’s newly operational high-energy laser defense system, introduced in late 2025 as a complement to the existing Iron Dome missile defense. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Iron Beam targets short-range threats such as rockets, mortar rounds, and small drones, which are difficult and costly to intercept with traditional missiles. Instead of firing physical interceptors, Iron Beam uses a laser to rapidly heat and destroy targets, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution that can engage threats continuously as long as power is available. The strategic significance of Iron Beam lies in its operational advantages: it eliminates the need for missile reloads and stockpile management during prolonged conflicts, operates at the speed of light, and reduces collateral damage by minimizing debris from interceptions. It integrates seamlessly with Israel’s existing radar and command systems, enabling coordinated defense by assigning threats to the most suitable interceptor. While it does not replace missile defenses due to limitations like weather and range, Iron Beam serves as the innermost layer of Israel’s air
energylaser-weaponsdefense-technologyhigh-energy-lasersmissile-defensedirected-energy-weaponsmilitary-technologyJapan's biggest defense budget ever is built for a China showdown
Japan’s Cabinet has approved its largest-ever defense budget, exceeding 9 trillion yen ($58 billion), as part of a five-year plan to double defense spending to 2% of GDP. This expansion aims to enhance Japan’s strike-back capabilities, coastal defense, and unmanned warfare systems, primarily to counter perceived threats from China. Japanese leaders have expressed concerns that any conflict in the Taiwan Strait could directly impact Japan’s security, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicating potential Japanese involvement if China takes military action against Taiwan. The budget focuses on shifting Japan’s military posture from purely defensive to offensive by acquiring long-range strike weapons, including domestically developed cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, and US-made Tomahawk and Joint Strike Missiles. Missile defense remains a priority, with investments in advanced radar systems, Aegis-equipped vessels, and upgraded surface-to-air missiles to protect against ballistic and hypersonic threats. Additionally, Japan plans to establish the SHIELD drone network, incorporating various unm
robotunmanned-aerial-vehiclesmissile-defensehypersonic-weaponsdrone-networkmilitary-technologydefense-budgetIron Beam air defense explained: The laser that strengthens Iron Dome
The article explains how Israel’s Iron Beam laser defense system complements the existing Iron Dome missile interceptor system, potentially transforming air defense economics and capabilities. Iron Dome uses radar to detect incoming threats, a control center to assess their trajectories, and launches Tamir interceptor missiles to neutralize only those projectiles threatening protected areas. While effective at ranges of 4 to 70 km and combat-proven, Iron Dome’s interceptors are costly—around $40,000 each, with total engagement costs exceeding $100,000—and limited by missile inventory and reload logistics. Iron Beam, developed by Rafael and Elbit Systems and nearing operational deployment as of September 2025, employs directed laser energy to disable threats at shorter ranges (up to about 10 km). Its “ammunition” is electricity, making the marginal cost per shot extremely low, just a few dollars, and allowing rapid successive engagements limited mainly by power and cooling capacity. Variants include mobile and fixed-site versions with power levels ranging from about
energydirected-energy-weaponslaser-technologymissile-defenseIron-DomeIron-Beammilitary-technologyTrump’s ‘Golden Dome’ could resurrect the US Mach 6 railgun dream
The article discusses General Atomics’ renewed efforts to develop a 32-megajoule electromagnetic railgun capable of firing projectiles at speeds up to Mach 6, as part of the US Pentagon’s “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative. This technology, which had been previously shelved by the US Navy and Army in 2021 due to cost and technical challenges, is now being revived with key engineering problems such as barrel wear and power integration reportedly resolved. The railgun system is designed to intercept both cruise and ballistic missiles, using tungsten pellets as projectiles, and offers advantages like high muzzle velocity, standoff capability, and potentially lower per-shot costs compared to traditional missile interceptors. General Atomics envisions the railgun playing a critical role in layered missile defense, particularly for protecting strategic locations like Guam, which faces threats from advanced Chinese missile systems. The company highlights the railgun’s suitability for countering high-volume missile salvos through repeatable firepower and terminal defense capabilities. Additionally
energyelectromagnetic-railgunmissile-defensehypersonic-weaponsGeneral-Atomicsmilitary-technologyadvanced-materialsCan This Stop WW3? U.S. vs China: Nuclear Race
The article discusses the current state and future challenges of the U.S. nuclear arsenal, which is based on the Cold War-era nuclear triad: land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), stealth bombers, and submarine-launched missiles. This triad was designed to guarantee a second-strike capability, thereby deterring any first strike by adversaries and maintaining strategic stability for over fifty years. However, this longstanding balance of power is now under threat as global nuclear dynamics evolve. In 2025, China revealed its own nuclear triad, marking a significant shift in the strategic landscape and challenging the traditional deterrence framework. Alongside Russia's ongoing modernization efforts, the U.S. faces the unprecedented challenge of two nuclear peers simultaneously. The article questions whether America's extensive, trillion-dollar modernization program for its nuclear forces will be sufficient to maintain its strategic edge or if the Cold War deterrence model is becoming obsolete in this new era of nuclear competition.
energynuclear-weaponsmilitary-technologymissile-defensestrategic-deterrencenuclear-triaddefense-modernizationTaiwan plans US-backed ‘defense wall’ to hunt Chinese jets, missiles
Taiwan is planning to significantly enhance its air defense capabilities by potentially acquiring nine additional US-made NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems) batteries to complement the three already purchased in October 2024. If completed, this would bring Taiwan’s total to 12 NASAMS batteries, enabling overlapping coverage of key areas against short- and medium-range threats such as Chinese aircraft, drones, helicopters, and cruise missiles. The initial purchase, finalized in February 2025 for approximately US$762 million, includes delivery of the first system expected by the end of 2025, though delays are possible. This expansion is part of Taiwan’s broader multi-domain deterrence strategy showcased at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition. NASAMS is a network-centric, ground-based air defense system jointly developed by Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and the US company Raytheon. It integrates advanced radar, electro-optical and infrared sensors, and missile launchers equipped with AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles
defense-technologymissile-defensenetwork-centric-systemscommand-and-controlradar-technologyair-defense-systemsmilitary-IoTUS buys 2,000 missiles to hit stealth jets, hypersonics at 118,000 feet
The U.S. Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a $9.8 billion contract to produce nearly 2,000 PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors, marking the largest contract in the company’s Missiles and Fire Control division history. The PAC-3 MSE is the world’s most advanced air defense missile, capable of intercepting targets up to 75 miles (120 kilometers) away and at altitudes of 118,000 feet (36 kilometers). It employs “hit-to-kill” technology, destroying incoming threats through direct collision, which enhances its effectiveness against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, and aircraft. The missile features a two-pulse solid rocket motor, larger collapsible fins, improved actuators, longer-lasting thermal batteries, and an active radar seeker for autonomous terminal guidance, offering about 50% greater range and maneuverability than earlier models. Lockheed Martin is expanding production capacity to meet rising global demand, with plans to deliver
energymissile-defenseLockheed-Martinsolid-rocket-motorthermal-batterieshypersonic-weaponskinetic-energyDefense sensor helps defeat drones, jets, missiles' coordinated attacks
Raytheon has successfully completed nine increasingly complex flight tests of its Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS), demonstrating its advanced capabilities in missile defense. In the latest 360-degree flight test, LTAMDS integrated with the Integrated Battle Command System and a PAC-3 MSE missile to intercept a threat-representative target. A key enhancement enabling LTAMDS to reach its full battlespace potential is the incorporation of the Large Tactical Power Source (LTPS), which provides increased power for the radar system. LTAMDS features three radar arrays—one primary and two secondary—that work together to detect and engage multiple threats simultaneously from any direction, effectively countering massive, coordinated attacks involving drones, jets, and missiles. Designated as an official U.S. Army program of record in April 2025, LTAMDS is designed to address advanced and next-generation threats, including hypersonic weapons. Poland became the first international customer in 2024, with several other countries planning
energyradar-technologymissile-defensemilitary-technologysensor-systemsintegrated-battle-commandpower-sourcesTurkey’s new airborne laser zaps heat-seeking missile in first test
Turkey’s defense firm Aselsan has successfully tested its YILDIRIM-100 Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) system, designed to detect, track, and neutralize infrared-guided air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles using high-energy, multi-band laser beams. The live-fire trials demonstrated the system’s autonomous capability to identify incoming missile threats and disrupt their seeker heads, forcing missiles off course before impact. The YILDIRIM-100 offers 360-degree hemispherical coverage, can engage multiple simultaneous threats, and features a twin-head turret with fast-tracking sensors and a high-power laser. It integrates with ultraviolet and infrared missile warning systems, boasts low power consumption, reduced size and weight, and an open architecture compatible with NATO standards, making it suitable for both new and legacy aircraft in high-threat environments. Aselsan is also developing an advanced variant, the YILDIRIM-300, tailored for Turkey’s fifth-generation KAAN fighter jet, which is expected to enter
energylaser-technologydirected-infrared-countermeasuremissile-defensemilitary-technologyairborne-systemshigh-energy-lasersTrump’s 'Big Beautiful Bill' passed, cuts solar, funds Mars missions
The U.S. Senate has passed President Donald Trump’s expansive $3.3 trillion tax-and-spending bill, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” by a narrow 51-50 vote with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. The legislation extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, introduces new tax breaks on tipped and overtime income, significantly boosts military and immigration enforcement funding, and enacts deep cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and food assistance programs like SNAP. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, where some Republican opposition could complicate its final passage. A major focus of the bill is on defense and space exploration, with military spending increased by $153 billion, including funds for a new missile defense system, shipbuilding, and nuclear deterrence. Space programs receive $10 billion for Mars missions and funding to de-orbit the International Space Station. However, the bill imposes stringent work requirements on Medicaid and SNAP recipients and
energysolar-energyMars-missionsspace-explorationmissile-defensenuclear-deterrencemilitary-spendingLockheed's new long-range radar tracks live ballistic missile in test
Lockheed Martin and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) successfully tested the Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR), demonstrating its capability to detect, track, and discriminate a live intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) target amid complex conditions. Conducted on June 23, 2025, at Clear Space Force Station, Alaska, the test involved tracking a missile launched over the northern Pacific Ocean, flying more than 1,242 miles off Alaska’s coast. The LRDR provided critical tracking data to the Command and Control Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC) system, supporting a simulated Ground-Based Midcourse Defense engagement. This test validated LRDR’s extended-range detection and discrimination capabilities, crucial for homeland defense. The LRDR is a solid-state, gallium nitride (GaN)-based radar developed under Lockheed Martin’s Open GaN Foundry model, designed to enhance the US layered missile defense strategy by improving precision in distinguishing real threats from decoys. The radar also
materialsradar-technologygallium-nitridemissile-defenseLockheed-Martinlong-range-radarhomeland-securityIran claims it confused Israel’s defenses in Monday’s missile strike
On Monday, Iran launched a significant missile strike targeting Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Haifa, resulting in the destruction of residential buildings, damage to infrastructure such as a power plant near Haifa’s port, and casualties with at least five dead and over 100 wounded. The attacks were reportedly in retaliation for Israel’s earlier airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile facilities, which killed key Iranian military leaders and caused substantial damage. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed to have employed a “new method” that confused Israel’s missile defense systems into targeting each other, achieving successful hits despite Israel’s advanced technology. Israel has not officially commented on the missile strikes but has previously acknowledged vulnerabilities in its defense systems. The conflict has escalated rapidly, with Israel continuing to target Iranian military and Revolutionary Guard command centers, resulting in heavy Iranian casualties—over 220 killed and more than 1,200 injured, mostly civilians according to Iranian sources. Iran has vowed major retaliation, warning of opening “the gates of hell.”
energymissile-defensemilitary-technologyhypersonic-missilespower-plantregional-conflictdefense-systems