Israeli game-changer 'Iron Beam' laser defense system expected to be operational in 2024

Israel's cutting-edge Iron Beam defense system is expected to become operational ahead of schedule and likely sometime in 2024.

Israeli defense companies Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) view the ongoing war in Gaza as a valuable test ground for the advanced laser-based aerial defense system.

Once operational, the Iron Beam is expected to become a game-changer as it costs only a fraction to operate compared to Israel’s current Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow aerial defense system. While every Iron Dome missile costs tens of thousands of dollars, each Iron Beam interception will reportedly cost only a few dollars each.

Ever since the Hamas massacre in Israel on Oct. 7, Israel Defense Forces has intercepted a large number of hostile missiles and drones from Iranian-backed terrorists in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, as well as the pro-Iranian Houthis in Yemen.

Known as the Start-Up Nation, Israel has established itself as an innovative global player that develops unconventional and even revolutionary military systems for increasingly complex security needs.

The Jewish state has invested billions of dollars in establishing the world’s arguably most advanced multi-layered aerial defense system. While the IDF's aerial defense has been largely successful in terms of precision strikes, it is very expensive to maintain and operate the system compared to cheaper missiles used by Iran's terror proxies, such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

In April 2022, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett praised the upcoming Iron Beam system as a “huge achievement” for the nation's defense industry.

“We have successfully completed a series of tests on our new ‘Iron Beam’ laser air defense system. This may sound like science-fiction, but it’s real,” Bennett stated.

“This is the world’s first energy-based weapons system that has proven to actually work. The Iron Beam’s interceptions are silent, they’re invisible and they only cost around $3.50. We are turning the tables on terror,” the former prime minister added.

The current Swords of Iron war in Gaza is expected to cost the Israeli economy billions of dollars, in part, because of the large expense of using defense missiles that each cost tens of thousands of dollars to intercept and neutralize significantly cheaper incoming enemy missiles from Gaza and Lebanon, for example.

The Iron Beam system is expected to change the equation by making Israel’s defensive response even cheaper than the incoming hostile missiles from terror organizations.

Hundreds of engineers and other military experts at Rafael’s Research Development and Engineering division are currently working to accelerate the development and deployment of the Iron Beam system.

The United States has also expressed interest in the Iron Beam defense system.

In December 2022, the large U.S. defense company Lockheed Martin signed an agreement with Rafael to join the Iron Beam defense project.

In late August 2023, Rafael Chairman Yuval Steinitz predicted that Israel would become the first country in the world to have an operational laser-based aerial defense system in 2024.

“One year from now – Israel will be the first country to have partial laser protection, Steinitz stated.

“In two years there may be complete protection against missiles, shells, rockets, or anything else. This will protect us both in the south and in the north," he added.