THIS is the jawdropping moment Israel’s new Iron Beam interceptor blasts drones out of the sky – as the laser-based system is deployed.
Extraordinary footage shows the £413million air defence weapon which “never runs out of ammo” in action – burning projectiles out of the sky.
Israel’s Iron Beam laser-based system is now operational[/caption]
It downs drones by burning them out of the skies[/caption]
After completing development and passing its final tests, the state-of-the-art weapon has now been declared operational.
It will be delivered to the military by the end of this year, Israel’s Defence Ministry confirmed.
The cutting edge Iron Beam has been in development for over a decade.
After first being unveiled in 2014, Israel then used a low-powered version of the system to shoot down Hezbollah drones used from Lebanon.
Tel Aviv said it “successfully completed an advanced series of operational tests, which lasted several weeks, to demonstrate the capabilities of the high-power laser system”.
They added that the tests involved intercepting rockets, mortars, and drones.
The Defence Ministry said: “The series of tests, conducted at a testing ground in southern Israel, concludes the development process and constitutes the final stage before delivering the system for operational use in the IDF.”
The technological marvel was designed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
They also renamed the system in Hebrew from Magen Or, which means light shield, to Or Eitan, meaning Eitan’s light.
The name is dedicated to Cpt. Eitan Oster, 22, an Israeli commander who was killed fighting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon in October 2024.
Dramatic footage shows the system in action, carefully scanning the sky before blitzing an incoming drone that then crashes to the ground.
The laser systems offer a more cost-effective solution to combating air threats.
The Iron Beam is not supposed to replace the Iron Dome or Israel’s other air defence systems.
But it will significantly complement their already advanced arsenal by shooting incoming projectiles at the speed of light.
Israel’s Iron Beam system in action[/caption]
The Iron Beam is expected to down smaller projectiles, while leaving larger ones for the more robust missile-based weapons such as the David’s Sling and Arrow systems.
Instead of using traditional bullets or missiles, the Iron Beam only needs energy for ammunition.
As long as it has consistent access to an energy source, it can never run dry.
Just one interception from the Iron Dome can cost tens of thousands of pounds.
How Israel’s defence mechanisms work
Iron Beam
The Iron Beam locks onto UAVs, mortars and rockets at the speed of light before zapping them.
It uses a level of energy to destroy aerial threats.
The laser system has a range from a few hundred metres to several kilemetres.
Iron Dome
The Iron Dome is Israel’s most famed missile shield.
It intercepts short-range rockets as well as shells and mortar.
Iron Dome batteries are scattered across Israel, with each base having three or four launchers.
Each launcher has 20 interceptor missiles.
A radar system detects rockets and calculates the trajectory, while a control system estimates the impact point.
An operator then decides whether to launch rockets to intercept.
David’s Sling
David’s Sling destroys longer-range rockets, cruise missiles and medium or long-range ballistic missiles.
It started operation in 2017 and like the Dome, only stops missiles that threaten civilians and infrastructure.
Arrow 2 and Arrow 3
Arrow 2 wipes out short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles while they are flying through the upper atmosphere.
It is able to detect missiles up to 500km away.
Missiles from Arrow 2 can travel at nine times the speed of sounds – firing at up to 14 targets at once.
Arrow 3 meanwhile intercepts long-range ballistic missiles as they travel at the top of their arc outside the Earth’s atmosphere.
Thaad system
Thaad is a US-made system, designed to work in a similar way to David’s Sling and intercept missiles towards the end of their flight.
It can stop missiles inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere.
Thaad batteries usually have six launchers, which each contain eight missiles.
Whereas the laser system is said to cost as little as £2 per use with a power output of 100kW.
Officials have dubbed it a potential “game-changer” in the battle against aerial attacks.
In terms of downsides, the system does not perform well in low visibility, including heavy cloud cover or fog.
Defence Minister Israel Katz said: “The Iron Beam places the State of Israel at the forefront of global military technology and makes the State of Israel the first country to possess this capability.”
He added: “This is not only a moment of national pride, but a historic milestone for our defense envelope.
a fast, precise interception at marginal cost that joins the existing defensive tools and changes the threat equation,” he said.
It cost £413million to manufacture but just £2 for each use[/caption]
