Israel's new air defense laser goes into service

TT

Published 15.41

 

The picture from June this year shows an Israeli air defense missile fired to counter an Iranian missile attack. Photo: Baz Ratner/AP/TT

Israel has now begun using its new air defense system Iron Beam, which will be able to shoot down drones and missiles using lasers, the Defense Ministry told Israeli media.

The announcement means that Iron Beam batteries will now be produced and installed in locations around the country on a large scale, reports The Jerusalem Post.

Israel has been using the lighter, laser-based air defense system Lite Beam against drones since the summer, but Iron Beam, unlike Lite Beam, will also be able to shoot down missiles, rockets and grenades, the newspaper writes.

The Ministry of Defense and the military expect that Iron Beam will lead to significantly lower costs than Israel's current air defense system, which can cost the equivalent of several million kronor per fired air defense missile.

The question of cost-effective countermeasures against drones and missiles has become one of the most important defense policy issues in recent years as a result of the wars in the Middle East and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.