The Israeli laser-based interceptor Iron Beam is a significant, global technological breakthrough, which in the near future will change how the country defends itself while causing more than a few dilemmas and headaches for the enemy on all fronts.
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A laser system is advantageous for obvious reasons: You can intercept numerous threats, at a low cost (compared to the cost of intercepting threats with missiles). This is why many countries in recent decades have been trying to shatter the technological glass ceiling and build a system that allows them to efficiently cope with the rising threat of rockets and missiles. Hence Israel's achievement is extraordinary in every regard; beyond the exclusive defensive capabilities it provides the Jewish state, it's safe to assume that in the near future it will also be the crown jewel of the Israeli weapons exports industry, which is already lucrative.
The series of tests carried out by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Sytems in conjunction with the Defense Ministry proved the capabilities of the system, which was developed to contend with various scenarios and targets – rockets, mortars, anti-tank missiles, and numerous unmanned aerial vehicles.
"For the first time ever, a high-powered laser system, developed by [Israel], can shoot down targets from a distance," announced Defense Minister Benny Gantz. "We will do everything we can to make the system operational as soon as possible, providing an efficient, cheap and innovative defensive umbrella that will save lives and allow for greater offensive maneuverability against our enemies."
Iron Beam is expected to continue undergoing tests in the coming weeks as well, after which it will be integrated operationally in the Gaza sector. The system will initially be used to complement the Iron Dome missile defense system and over time, as it proves its capabilities, it will eventually supplant the Iron Dome as the primary interceptor system.
The system will only be fully deployed on all fronts in a few years, and even then, it won't lack for challenges; the laser struggles to function in cloudy and hazy conditions, which prevent it from acquiring a direct line of sight with the target. It also isn't effective against long-range rockets and missiles. Therefore, in addition to the surface-to-air laser system developed by Rafael, an air-to-air system is also being developed by Elbit to considerably extend the system's interception range. It's reasonable to assume that in the future, the system will be used at sea and on tanks and other mechanized infantry forces.
Envy of the world
Defense officials call Iron Beam a "game-changer" because it gives Israel almost hermetic protection from missiles and rockets, with the implication being that its enemies' vast investments in manufacturing this threat will virtually have been for naught. Israel is currently threatened by more than 100,000 missiles and rockets from Lebanon, and some 15,000 from Gaza, along with Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Iran, which is the engine behind the widespread proliferation of the rocket, missiles, and drones in the Middle East.
The laser system will be operated by the Air Force's Air Defense Command, in synchronicity with the interceptor systems currently in place – Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow. It will dramatically enhance the operational flexibility of an Air Defense Command that must operate frugally due to high costs. It should be easy to deploy – two trucks consisting of a launcher attached to an external radar, generator and command trailer. The air force has already begun drafting Iron Beam's operational doctrine.
The system is exclusively Israeli-made but has already received interest from the United States and Arab allies in the Persian Gulf. The moment the system becomes operational, countries across the will want to purchase it to protect themselves from missile threats. It is unlikely that Israel will want to sell the system right away, before exhausting its vast potential to change the game against its own enemies – both defensively and offensively.
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