Click to see full-size image. (Israeli Ministry of Defense)
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had taken delivery of the first operational Iron Beam high-power laser interception system, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced.
Defense Minister Israel Katz called the delivery “a historic occasion,” saying in a statement that “the first time in the world that a high-power laser interception system has reached operational maturity,” adding that it “changes the rules of the game and sends a clear message to all our enemies… do not test us.”
Meanwhile, MoD Director General Amir Baram said that the delivery “marks the transition from development to serial production,” describing the delivery of the first operational system as “only the beginning of the technological revolution” and noting it is expected to significantly improve both Israel’s defensive capabilities and the cost balance between threats and costly interceptors.
Click to see full-size image. (Israeli Ministry of Defense)
The Iron Beam was unveiled in 2014, after decades of developments by Israeli giant Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
The system was declared operational in September after completing development and final tests. Later on December 1, it was announced that the first operational system would be handed over to the IDF before the end of the year.
The Iron Beam will be operated by the air force and integrated into the country’s multi-layered air defense array. It won’t be replacing any missile-based systems, it will rather complement them.
The specifications of the system are classified, but it is said to have a range of around ten kilometers. Israel claims that the system successfully intercepted rockets, mortar shells and drones during extensive testing. It is reported to cost as much as dozens of million of dollars a system, but could intercept a drone for as much as a few dollars.
In May, the Israeli MoD and IDF revealed that the air force intercepted dozens of Hezbollah drones using a smaller version of the Iron Beam.
Laser-based air defense systems offer high accuracy, speed, low cost per engagement, and reduced reliance on ammunition, which makes it especially suitable for intercepting drones.
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war is a racket, they’re a big club and you ain’t in it..
“we are all disposable to them” qe2.
they’re not like us. nothings what it seems. nothing. they aren’t normal like us. never judge a book by its cover and never be led like a lamb. “never trust anybody” queen mum.
“and in the end times the whole world shall be deceived, and the deceivers themselves shall be deceived” the bible informs.
here’s zelensky showing himself.
“trump reveals 2 hourputin call, claims major breakthrough on ukraine with zelensky” you tube
look at zelensky. so obvious.