Let me be the first on the block to congratulate the state of Israel and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for having used — since the fall of 2024 — the incredibly effective and incredibly cheap Iron Beam laser anti-missile defense weapon. For more on this achievement, see here: “Historic breakthrough: IDF reveals Iron Beam-like laser defense shot down dozens of aerial threats,” by Yonah Jeremy Bob, Jerusalem Post, May 28, 2025:
In a historic breakthrough, the IDF on Wednesday announced that an unnamed laser defense system similar to the much celebrated Iron Beam laser system has shot down dozens of aerial threats during the war.
Already in fall 2024, The Jerusalem Post had learned that the IDF had used laser defense systems in operational situations but was barred from reporting on that at the time.
According to the Defense Ministry, the Iron Beam and a related family of laser defense systems, produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, are the most advanced and operational lasers in the world, though England, the US, and others also have relatively advanced laser platforms.
Sources have told the Post that what makes the Iron Beam the most advanced is its reliability in different kinds of weather, variable range, adaptability to different kinds of aerial threats, and the ability to place it in different contexts.
Other sources said that they could not reveal the name of the sister-laser system to the Iron Beam, whose progress was being publicly revealed on Wednesday….
Repeated top Israeli official statements have predicted that by the end of 2025, the Iron Beam will be more widely and publicly deployed.
Despite Wednesday’s success and other successes with Iron Beam expected later in 2025, laser defense will not replace the Iron Dome overnight. One thing this war has revealed is that there are diverse kinds of aerial threats and that the Iron Dome can be overwhelmed by swarms and mass simultaneous rocket or drone attacks.
In that case, it is more likely that there will be an extended era where lasers will serve alongside the Iron Dome as an additional option to save money and will only replace it if they become efficient enough and cost-saving enough to confront swarm and mass rocket attack scenarios.
In addition, lasers are generally, for now, thought of as defending against short- and medium-range threats, not ballistic missiles, which are generally shot down much farther away from a country’s defense line. For example, Israel’s Arrow 3 missile system shoots down ballistic missiles up in Earth’s atmosphere, a much greater distance to achieve for a laser to remain effective at destroying an object.
From the bottom of our hearts, we who are on the right side of history thank you, Israel, for another breakthrough that, once again, demonstrates the brilliance of your weapons scientists. Thank god we are on the same side.
Cynthia says
Israel will share their technology with the US as it’s always done. This is what our billions gets in return for sending weapons.
US should attack Iran’s nuclear program now for our children’s sake.
truth says
the underlying technology of laser weapons originated in the United States.
The US and Israel are linked forever, they both share with each other.. We should celebrate that… I’m sure if The Iran strike happens the US will stand with Israel.. I don’t understand your complaint and i don’t mean to offend.
🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱 🇺🇸 🇺🇸🇺🇸
MK says
Israel should cooperate with India and officially ask man power from India. Like Israel, India faces existential threat from China Pakistan, Bangladesh. China is giving all technology to Pakistan almost free as it wants to stop India progress particularly industrial , defense progress
MK says
Israel should cooperate with India and officially ask man power from India. Like Israel, India faces existential threat from China Pakistan, Bangladesh. China is giving all technology to Pakistan almost free as it wants to stop India progress particularly industrial , defense progress
Edmund Carey says
The better the Israelis get at defending themselves the more enraged their enemies become. Jews are not supposed to be able to stand up to Arabs or Muslims like this. Which is why they adopt a policy of “victory for us is to see you suffer”.
At this point they are most likely to be downright lusting to accomplish another cowardly massacre like the one that North American university students so approve of. And maybe they will. But they will never put an end to the tiny, solitary, embattled Jewish state. I hope and I trust.
James Lincoln says
Edmund,
Muslims are both embarrassed – and jealous – of Israel’s and it’s IDF capabilities.
STJOHNOFGRAFTON says
Steel Beam, Platinum Beam, or just Sis?
abu taleb says
Yet, Allah is still throwing rocks as his weapon against the devils or jinns who want to eavesdrop the meeting in the heaven. There are still meteors on the sky, right?
Better for muslims to worship Israel than to worship Allah. LOL