‘Israel’ to receive first-of-its-kind weapons system by end of 2025

• ‘Israel's’ Ministry of Defense announced that the Iron Beam laser air-defense system will be delivered to their military by the end of this month (December 30).
• The high-energy laser interceptor is expected to enter initial operational use in 2026, offering near-zero cost per shot to counter rockets, drones, and mortars.

‘Israel's’ Ministry of Defense announced today that the Iron Beam laser air-defense system will be delivered to their military by the end of this month - on December 30.

The high-energy laser interceptor, developed over more than a decade, is considered a deployment in countering aerial projectiles like rockets, drones, and mortars at near-zero cost per shot.

The system, also known as Or Eitan, has completed testing and is set to integrate with existing ‘Israeli’ systems such as the Iron Dome.

Brigadier General Daniel Gold, head of the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research & Development, delivered the key announcement at the International DefenseTech Week summit at Tel Aviv University.

He said that the Iron Beam will enter initial operational use in 2026, marking a "major shift in battlefield defense" by providing instantaneous, low-cost interceptions.

The Iron Beam operates with a 100 kW-class laser capable of engaging targets up to 10 km away, achieving interception rates over 95% in various weather conditions during final trials conducted in southern ‘Israel’.

Unlike traditional missile-based systems, each laser shot costs just a few shekels, making it a cost-effective complement to kinetic interceptors.

Development of the Iron Beam was accelerated; with partnerships involving Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems, which provided the laser source.