Iron Beam

Iron Beam (Hebrew: קֶרֶן בַּרְזֶל, keren barzel), officially מגן אור, magen or, "Light Shield", is a directed-energy weapon air defense system which was unveiled at the Singapore Airshow on February 11, 2014 [1] by Israeli defense contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.[2] The system is designed to destroy short-range rockets, artillery, and mortar bombs; it has a range of up to 7 km (4.3 mi), too close for the Iron Dome system to intercept projectiles effectively.[2][3] In addition, the system could also intercept unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).[4] Iron Beam will constitute the fifth element of Israel's integrated air defense system,[2] in addition to Arrow 2, Arrow 3, David's Sling, and Iron Dome.[5] However, Iron Beam can be used stand-alone.[4]

Iron Beam uses a fiber laser to destroy an airborne target within 4–5 seconds of firing. Whether acting as a stand-alone system or with external cueing as part of an air-defense system, a threat is detected by a surveillance system and tracked by vehicle platforms in order to engage. The main benefits of using a directed energy weapon over conventional missile interceptors are lower costs per shot, unlimited number of firings, lower operational costs, and less manpower. There is also no interceptor debris to fall on the area protected. The cost of each interception is negligible, unlike expensive missile interceptors—around US$2,000 per shot to cover all costs, against $100,000 to $150,000 per interceptor firing.[6]

In 2016 laser power levels were reported to be "tens of kilowatts" with increases planned to hundreds of kilowatts.[7]

As of 2016 Iron Beam had been funded mainly by the Israeli Ministry of Defense (MoD), and Rafael was awaiting a decision on whether they would choose to operate the system. Rafael was also pursuing increasing the range of the system and partnering with other companies to further develop the prototype.[7][8]

The system is based on five years of research and development in solid-state lasers and is developed by Rafael, funded by the MoD, and underwritten by the United States. An Iron Beam battery is mobile and composed of an air defense radar, a command and control (C2) unit, and two HEL (High Energy Laser) systems.[9] It is intended for two laser guns to initially produce 100–150 kW of power.[10]

While official information is not available, a 2020 report said that Iron Beam was thought to have a maximum effective range of up to 7 km, and could destroy missiles, UAVs (drones), and mortar shells around four seconds after the twin high-energy fiber-optic lasers make contact with their target.[6]

In April 2022, the Israeli Ministry of Defense and Rafael announced the completion of successful interception experiments for a variety of threats using a powerful laser system developed in Israel. It is estimated that within a year or two the system will be declared operational and complementary to the Iron Dome.[11]