Israeli-Made High-Energy Laser Makes Debut.

• Author: Easley, Mikayla

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates--Israel-based Rafael Advanced Defense Systems debuted its high-energy laser weapon system that will augment Israel's Iron Dome air defense system for more modern threats.

Called the Iron Beam, the system is designed to neutralize a range of incoming targets--including unmanned aerial systems, rockets, artillery and mortar rounds --using a 100-kilowatt or more directed energy weapon, said Ran Gozali, executive vice president of Rafael's land and naval division.

"We actually can focus the beam to the diameter of a coin in a 10-kilometer range," Gozali said on the sidelines of the International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi. The trade show was the first time that Rafael unveiled a full-scale model of the Iron Beam.

In March 2022, Rafael conducted a series of successful live-fire tests, where a demonstrator intercepted UAVs, mortars, rockets and anti-tank missiles in different scenarios, he said.

Following the tests, the Israeli government's Directorate of Defense Research and Development funded the technology. The Iron Beam could be deployed by 2025 as part of Israel's Iron Dome, Gozali said.

Rafael has been developing laser technology for 20 years, but in the last two years the company nailed down how to keep the beam focused enough so it can...