Iron Beam laser protection system delivered to IDF

After a posh growth course of, Israel’s Ministry of Protection Directorate of Protection R&D (DDR&D) (MAFAT) and Rafael Superior Protection Techniques this morning delivered the primary Iron Beam excessive power laser protection system to the Israel Protection Forces (IDF).

The system, which has confirmed its effectiveness in an in depth collection of trials towards quite a lot of threats, and has efficiently intercepted rockets, mortars and drones, is being obtained by the Israel Air Pressure and built-in into Israel’s multi-layered protection system, as a complementary functionality to the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and the Arrow air missile protection techniques.

The official handover ceremony was held on the Rafael facility within the presence of Minister of Protection Israel Katz. The ceremony was attended by Dov Oster, a MAFAT worker who was one of many system’s builders and the daddy of the late Captain Eitan Oster, who fell in battle in southern Lebanon through the battle and whose identify the system now bears – Or Eitan.

Iron Beam’s foremost benefit

Iron Beam represents a world-class technological and engineering breakthrough. It’s a highly effective laser system for cover towards aerial threats (rockets, mortar bombs, unmanned aerial autos, and so on.). The system is supplied with a complicated laser supply and a singular electro-optical aiming system, which permits it to intercept a variety of targets with an upgraded working vary, most accuracy and really excessive effectivity, all at a negligible value – which is the primary benefit of the laser system

The system is meant to enhance Iron Dome, with each being operated from the identical management car. The Iron Dome is an interception system for rocket threats inside a variety of 40 kilometers, whereas Iron Beam may have a variety of as much as 10 kilometers, utilizing a robust laser beam with an influence of about 100 kilowatts

Iron Beam has a serious benefit over Iron Dome by way of value. Whereas every interception by Iron Dome prices an estimated $30,000, an interception by Iron Beam will value solely about $5-10 per interception, resulting from the usage of excessive power. Nevertheless, the laser has a major lower in effectiveness throughout cloudy and hazy situations, Because of the challenges of the laser, and the completely different ranges, Iron Beam and Iron Dome might be deployed facet by facet. Iron Beam might be deployed at borders, inhabitants facilities and strategic infrastructures to guard them from missiles, rockets, drones and mortars

MAFAT has been main the event of the system lately, along with the primary developer Rafael, alongside Elbit Techniques, which is liable for the laser within the system, and different protection industries, together with SCD and Shafir Techniques.

Revealed by Globes, Israel enterprise information – en.globes.co.il – on December 28, 2025.