Israel’s laser technologies have already conducted successful interceptions. According to a statement made by the nation’s Defense Ministry earlier this week, the cutting-edge Iron Beam system thwarted dozens of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched by Hezbollah in 2024. The lower-powered version of the Jewish state’s Iron Beam laser interceptor was reportedly developed at an accelerated pace following the Hezbollah drone threat last year. Since the Gaza-based Hamas terror group launched its October 2023 invasion in Israel, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) has shot down scores of projectiles launched by the group and Iran’s other regional affiliates based in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. At least 1,000 of these projectiles were drones, according to the IDF. The Iron Beam, along with its related offshoots, represent the most advanced operational lasers across the globe.
“Throughout the current war, the [Israeli Air Force] IAF, including its Aerial Defense Array soldiers, studied and deployed the laser systems in the field, achieving outstanding interception rates that saved civilian lives and protected national assets,” the IDF and Defense Ministry said, releasing footage of some of the system’s interceptions. On May 28, 2025, a video depicting the shootdown of drones over northern Israel by laser interception was published. While the deployment of this laser system is a big milestone for Israel, the eventual entry to service of the Iron Beam is expected to be more impactful.
What We Know About the Iron Beam
Israel’s Iron Beam program was first debuted by local manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems back in 2014. While the laser system was considered to be innovative, the inception of the laser weapon dates back much further. The infamous “Star Wars” program put forth by the Ronald Reagan administration in the 1980s is really thought of as the father of laser defense concepts. However, the technology at the time was simply not there yet to make this vision a reality. Israel only discovered the technology required to develop a prototype for its Iron Beam program in 2014.
The IDF is certainly making strides in its laser air defense project, but specifics surrounding its specs and capabilities remain highly classified. Analysts currently believe that the Iron Beam could field a maximum range of up to seven kilometers and will be able to intercept barrages via its twin high-energy fiber-optic cables. Notably, the Iron Beam reportedly costs a mere $2 per interception, which is much cheaper than the Iron Dome’s specialized interceptors, which can range in cost from $20,000-$1,000,000 each. The affiliated laser weapon used to down Hezbollah’s drones in 2024 reportedly has hard-kill neutralization capabilities, which can be incorporated into tracked vehicles. According to Rafael, this Iron Beam offshoot “offers advantages such as engagement at the speed of light, an unlimited magazine, and negligible cost per interception.”
Considering Israel’s proximity to hostile adversaries, consistently developing new and cutting-edge technologies is essential to the nation’s security. Fueled by Iranian funds and components, Hamas’, Hezbollah’s, and the Houthis’ projectile stockpiles continue to grow. The introduction of the Iron Beam will complement Israel’s existing tiered air defense systems nicely.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: Gal_Rotem / Shutterstock.com
