Latest news with #IronDome
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel's billion-dollar laser weapon could dominate global defense – or be killed by politics
Israel's laser weapons debut in combat as NATO eyes next-gen defenses. Low-cost, battlefield-proven tech—but geopolitics may block export deals. The Defense Ministry's confirmation that Rafael's laser interception systems were used during the ongoing Swords of Iron war comes at a pivotal moment. NATO countries are preparing to raise their defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP), a shift expected to generate some €800 billion in procurement. With Israeli companies Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems already embedded in NATO supply chains, their next-generation laser systems could become Israel's next multi-billion-dollar defense export—if diplomatic friction doesn't block the path. Despite more than 10,000 successful interceptions since 2011, Israel's Iron Dome air-defense system—developed by Rafael—has never been sold as a full system to any foreign country. While the United Kingdom purchased its battle management center and the United States Marine Corps acquired its interceptors, no nation to date has received the complete platform. This contrasts with the international success of other Israeli air-defense systems. The Arrow 3, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), was sold to Germany in a $3.5 billion deal. David's Sling, another Rafael system, was sold to Finland for €317 million. Rafael's Barak MX system has racked up roughly $10 billion in global sales. Despite Iron Dome's strong brand recognition, it has lagged behind these systems in terms of foreign adoption. Meanwhile, other Israeli-made weapons have already become NATO standards. Rafael's Spike anti-tank guided missiles have been sold in the billions of dollars and are produced in Germany, with previous manufacturing in Poland. In recent years, Elbit's PULS rocket artillery system has gained momentum, with confirmed sales to Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark—alongside several undisclosed NATO members. Ukraine's successful use of comparable systems against Russian targets has only added to the demand. Israel now hopes its laser-based interception technology will be next in line for global adoption—and it's betting billions on it. The Defense Ministry recently disclosed the existence of two laser systems: Magen Or (Iron Beam), a high-powered 100-kilowatt laser developed jointly by Rafael and Elbit Systems, and Lahav Barzel (Iron Sting), a smaller 30-kilowatt system designed by Rafael. Magen Or has intercepted short-range rockets at distances of up to 10 kilometers in tests. The IDF is expected to deploy an operational version by the end of the year. Lahav Barzel, which was used in combat for the first time during Swords of Iron, is more compact and energy-efficient. Rafael and Israeli vehicle manufacturer Plasan have already developed a mobile version mounted on Plasan's SandCat armored vehicle, enabling rapid redeployment between combat zones. Footage released by the Defense Ministry showed Lahav Barzel successfully intercepting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched by Hezbollah. The laser doesn't obliterate the drones in dramatic fashion—rather, it focuses heat on the drone's wing or fuselage until the structural integrity fails and the UAV crashes. The cost per interception is just a few dollars, limited to the electricity required to power the laser. By contrast, using interceptor missiles or air-to-air munitions can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per engagement. For American readers, that cost-efficiency could resonate strongly, particularly given current U.S. debates over defense budgets and aid allocations. As warfare becomes increasingly reliant on drone technology—seen most visibly in Ukraine and Russia's tit-for-tat strikes involving hundreds of UAVs each week—Israel's laser defense systems offer something rare: proven battlefield results at a fraction of the price. The case for Israel's laser technology is not only tactical but financial. However, Rafael CEO Yoav Turgeman acknowledged that export success also depends on geopolitical considerations—particularly growing European criticism of Israeli operations in Gaza. France, for example, reportedly attempted to dissuade Germany from purchasing the Arrow 3 system, and other European countries have downplayed their acquisitions of Israeli-made systems in response to domestic political concerns. While some European defense ministries are eager to procure Israeli technologies, officials are increasingly constrained by the political environment. Nevertheless, the security rationale remains persuasive. NATO states such as Finland, Sweden, Poland, and Germany—countries increasingly concerned about potential Russian aggression—view laser interception systems as a vital new layer of defense. While the United States has deployed 60-kilowatt laser systems on naval vessels, Israel appears poised to be the first country to field a land-based laser system in operational service.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel says it used air-defense lasers to shoot down drones
(NewsNation) — For years, laser warfare was the stuff of sci-fi — but on Israel's northern border with Lebanon, Israel's laser defense system just got real. Israel's defense ministry confirmed it has deployed a high-powered laser to shoot down Hezbollah drones. The system, dubbed the 'Iron Beam,' has shot down drones more than 40 times in recent years, the Israel Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. A play on Israel's 'Iron Dome' air-defense system, military analysts have said the technology could be the dawn of a new era in air defense. Hounds and Heroes pairs veterans with therapy animals The Iron Beam isn't a missile — unlike the Iron Dome, which fires costly interceptors into the sky. The laser system uses a beam of directed energy to melt targets midair with no explosion or impact, just instant heat and precision. According to military officials, more than 300 hostile drones were launched against Israel, and the laser helped stop dozens of them. Defense experts have said that lasers, unlike missiles, fire at the speed of light and cost pennies on the dollar to operate, making them an attractive option in a long conflict. 'It costs around $50,000 for one of Israel's Iron Dome to mirror interceptors. These bring those costs down to somewhere around $1. So it, you know, disincentivizes these kind of conflicts,' said Zev Faintuch, head of intelligence for Global Guardian. NewsNation celebrates Fleet Week skydiving with Navy SEALs The lasers have only been used on drones, which are relatively slow-moving targets, a potential downside. Then there's the weather to consider. 'Dust could be a big factor, but so can rain as well,' Faintuch said. 'So, it's unclear if this system can kind of overcome those inherent challenges with direct energy weapons.' While Israel is the first country to publicly confirm using the laser system in live combat, several other countries, including the United States, have also tested this kind of futuristic technology. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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First Post
a day ago
- Politics
- First Post
Golden Dome for America: Will it trigger arms race in space?
Donald Trump has taken inspiration from Israel's Iron Dome which has proved its worthiness in recent times against missiles launched from Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis read more Daniel Gold, an Israeli engineer and military leader, was head of the Israeli Directorate of Defence Research & Development (DDR&D) between 2003 and 2010 and was instrumental in developing Israel's Iron Dome air defence system, along with few other scientists. Possibly, it was he who had suggested the name Iron Dome. During the first hundred days of Trump 2.0, it appeared that the US President was keen to repeat the same model for developing a new missile defence system for the US. In January 2025, he announced that the US would develop an American Iron Dome. In this connection, on January 28, 2025 he signed an executive order directing the Pentagon to develop a comprehensive missile defence system. The executive order called the system 'Iron Dome for America'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In February 2025, the US Missile Defence Agency hosted an Industry Day to explore how the industry can contribute to this project. Subsequently, on 24 February an advisory was sent to defence contractors, the programme was found as 'Golden Dome for America'. Possibly, this change in name could have happened since the name 'Iron Dome' is a registered trademark owned by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. Also, the US version is designed to operate on a much larger scale, protecting the entire US territory (there is a proposal to also give the cover to Canada) from advanced missile threats. It is envisioned that the existing missile defence systems would have limitations since with time, new missile technologies are getting developed and in future the missile threats are expected to grow in scale and sophistication. There is a concern that China and Russia are actively designing missile systems to exploit gaps in the US defences. Beijing's success with the hypersonic missile technology is known. They have also established a near-space command to deal with various aspects of hypersonic technology. Moscow is modernising its intercontinental-range missile systems and developing advanced precision strike missiles. They are using drones as an important tool in their ongoing military campaign in the Ukraine theatre. Russian hypersonic weapons are now battle tested systems since they have used hypersonic missiles like Kinzhal on targets in Ukraine. It is obvious that Trump has taken inspiration from Israel's Iron Dome which has proved its worthiness in recent times against missiles launched from Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis. However, systems like Iron Dome have limited expanse, it needs to be noted that the geographic size of the US is about 448 times bigger than Israel. With regard to potential missile threats against Israel, they are unlikely to originate from multiple directions, and the incoming missiles are generally not expected to feature state-of-the-art technology. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump has mentioned that he is keen to have a system that would consist of next-generation technologies across land, sea and space, including space-based sensors and interceptors. The idea is to develop a system that is capable of intercepting missiles launched from any part of the world, or launched from space, say by using systems like fractional orbital bombardment systems (FOBS). This proposed Golden Dome is also expected to stop missiles that are moving towards the target with the hypersonic speeds (more than five times the speed of sound). The Trump administration has estimated the total cost of the entire system to be approximately around $175 billion. The Congressional Budget Office has projected that deploying space-based interceptors to counter a limited number of intercontinental ballistic missiles would cost between $161 billion and $542 billion over a period of 20-years. This system is expected to create a network of satellites, for the purposes of detect, tracking and potentially intercept incoming missiles. Possibly, that is why the head of the US Space Force is handling this project. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In fact, President Trump is reviving an idea that was proposed more than four decades ago by a former US President. In the 1980s, the then-President Ronald Reagan had conceptualised a missile defence architecture to guard against any nuclear attacks. On March 23, 1983, in a nationally televised address, he had announced the need for pioneering research into a national defence system that could render nuclear weapons obsolete. This proposal became famously known as the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI). At its core, the SDI programme aimed to develop a space-based missile defence system capable of protecting the US from a large-scale nuclear attack. While SDI spurred the development of various advanced technologies, the exact vision conceptualized by Reagan never fully materialised. During the last four decades the US has developed a range of missile defence systems like the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defence System, Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD), ground-based interceptors, air defence systems, and various short-range and aerial anti-ballistic missile systems. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is important to mention that the Golden Dome is not directly an upgrade of the existing THAAD missile system. THAAD is a terrestrial-based missile defence system, while the Golden Dome is a broader, more comprehensive space-based system. In essence, It could be said that the Golden Dome builds upon existing missile defence systems like THAAD but also expands its capabilities to include space-based surveillance and interception, making it a more comprehensive and advanced system. What President Trump has conceptualised is a significant idea from the standpoint of US national security. However, the question remains: is it technologically feasible? While a definitive answer is difficult, it can be broadly argued that, given the existing technological capabilities of the US, turning such a concept into reality is not entirely impossible. The real challenges are likely to arise from financial and political considerations. Perhaps the most concerning aspect of this initiative is the risk that it could trigger an arms race in space, as states may begin deploying weapons in the space. This would increase the likelihood of heightened military competition among major powers. Russia, North Korea, and China have already expressed strong opposition to this Golden Dome initiative. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The author is Deputy Director General, MP-IDSA, New Delhi. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Watch jaw-dropping moment laser weapon is used for the first time EVER on the battlefield as kamikaze drone is blasted
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ISRAEL has become the first country in the world to shoot down drones using a state-of-the-art laser system, it has been revealed. A highly-advanced model was operated to intercept Hezbollah drones along the Lebanese border in a huge breakthrough for the country's air defence. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Footage shows the system scanning the sky Credit: Israel Ministry of Defence 8 A drone is zapped by the state-of-the-art laser Credit: Israel Ministry of Defence 8 The Hezbollah drone then falls from the sky Credit: Israel Ministry of Defence 8 The technological marvel was designed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems as a scaled-down prototype version of the £413million Iron Beam, which is due to be unveiled later this year. Hezbollah drones were successfully blasted out of the sky by the system in question in late October, sources say. Use of the laser system was classified and a ban from reporting has only now been lifted. Its deployment has been confirmed by Israel's Ministry of Defence, which hailed "an accelerated development programme to deploy revolutionary interception systems". The laser systems will be integrated into Israel's multi-tiered air defence, which includes the world's most famed missile shield, the Iron Dome. It marks the first operational use of Israel's laser defence technology - touted as the most advanced internationally. Jaw-dropping footage shows the system in action, carefully scanning the sky before blitzing an incoming drone that then crashes to the ground. The laser systems offer a more cost-effective solution to combating air threats. Just one interception from the Iron Dome can cost tens of thousands of pounds. Whereas the laser system is said to cost as little as £2 per use with a power output of 100kW. Iron Dome Explained: Inside Israel's envy-of-the-world air defence downing 96% of terror rockets Deployment of Iron Beam's sister system was accelerated in a bid to fend off escalating attacks from Hezbollah - one of Iran's terror proxies. Dr Yuval Steinitz, chairman of Rafael, said: "Israel is the first country in the world to transform high-power laser technology into a fully operational system – and to execute actual combat interceptions." The company said it is the "beginning of a new era of warfare" that will "reshape the future of air defence"> Israel's MOD, Air Force and Rafael said the compact system was used to " successfully intercept scores of enemy threats". They added: The deployed laser systems are part of Rafael's portfolio of directed energy weapon systems, and complement the more powerful Iron Beam system, which is expected to be delivered to the IDF later this year. "Throughout the current war, the IAF studied and deployed the laser systems in the field, achieving outstanding interception rates that saved civilian lives and protected national assets." 8 IDF operators working with the laser system Credit: Israel Ministry of Defence 8 The laser system is much cheaper to use than the Iron Dome Credit: Israel Ministry of Defence How Israel's defence mechanisms work Iron Dome The Iron Dome is Israel's most famed missile shield. It intercepts short-range rockets as well as shells and mortar. Iron Dome batteries are scattered across Israel, with each base having three or four launchers. Each launcher has 20 interceptor missiles. A radar system detects rockets and calculates the trajectory, while a control system estimates the impact point. An operator then decides whether to launch rockets to intercept. David's Sling David's Sling destroys longer-range rockets, cruise missiles and medium or long-range ballistic missiles. It started operation in 2017 and like the Dome, only stops missiles that threaten civilians and infrastructure. Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 Arrow 2 wipes out short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles while they are flying through the upper atmosphere. It is able to detect missiles up to 500km away. Missiles from Arrow 2 can travel at nine times the speed of sounds - firing at up to 14 targets at once. Arrow 3 meanwhile intercepts long-range ballistic missiles as they travel at the top of their arc outside the Earth's atmosphere. Thaad system Thaad is a US-made system, designed to work in a similar way to David's Sling and intercept missiles towards the end of their flight. It can stop missiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere. Thaad batteries usually have six launchers, which each contain eight missiles. Iron Beam was first unveiled in 2014 and has been under development since - but is expected to come into operation before the year is through. It will be able to take down air threats such as rockets, mortar bombs, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles - and will be able to be programmed to follow low-flying targets before disabling them. Dr Daniel Gold, who spearheaded the creation of Iron Dome, vowed to "continue to advance this technology and deliver world-leading systems and capabilities to the IDF". The former Brigadier General, who now heads the Directorate of Defence Research & Development, said: 'The State of Israel is the first in the world to demonstrate large-scale operational laser interception capabilities. "Our vision for deploying laser weapons was realized during the war with tremendous technological and operational success.' According to Rafael, Iron Beam can shoot down flying objects like mortars, rockets, artillery, and UAVs with "pinpoint accuracy". 8 An Iron Dome battery system in action Credit: Supplied 8 The Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel, October 9, 2023 Credit: Reuters It has a range of several kilometres and costs almost nothing to run with it being a laser. As well as low cost, other benefits include unlimited number of firings, lower operational costs, and less manpower. But, unlike the Iron Dome, it's not an all-weather air defence system. The Iron Dome can be operated in all weather conditions - including fog, dust storm, low clouds and rain. But the Iron Beam system doesn't work effectively in wet conditions as the water particles absorb the laser's energy. It also needs a direct line of sight between the system and its target - making its placement far more important - and it has a much slower rate of fire. Although the laser beam makes its way to the target at the speed of light, it takes several seconds to destroy short-range missiles. The Iron Dome, however, destroys the target within a millisecond.
The Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Watch jaw-dropping moment laser weapon is used for the first time EVER on the battlefield as kamikaze drone is blasted
ISRAEL has become the first country in the world to shoot down drones using a state-of-the-art laser system, it has been revealed. A highly-advanced model was operated to intercept Hezbollah drones along the Lebanese border in a huge breakthrough for the country's air defence. 8 8 8 8 The technological marvel was designed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems as a scaled-down prototype version of the £413million Iron Beam, which is due to be unveiled later this year. Hezbollah drones were successfully blasted out of the sky by the system in question in late October, sources say. Use of the laser system was classified and a ban from reporting has only now been lifted. Its deployment has been confirmed by Israel 's Ministry of Defence, which hailed "an accelerated development programme to deploy revolutionary interception systems". The laser systems will be integrated into Israel's multi-tiered air defence, which includes the world's most famed missile shield, the Iron Dome. It marks the first operational use of Israel's laser defence technology - touted as the most advanced internationally. Jaw-dropping footage shows the system in action, carefully scanning the sky before blitzing an incoming drone that then crashes to the ground. The laser systems offer a more cost-effective solution to combating air threats. Just one interception from the Iron Dome can cost tens of thousands of pounds. Whereas the laser system is said to cost as little as £2 per use with a power output of 100kW. Deployment of Iron Beam's sister system was accelerated in a bid to fend off escalating attacks from Hezbollah - one of Iran's terror proxies. Dr Yuval Steinitz, chairman of Rafael, said: "Israel is the first country in the world to transform high-power laser technology into a fully operational system – and to execute actual combat interceptions." The company said it is the "beginning of a new era of warfare" that will "reshape the future of air defence"> Israel's MOD, Air Force and Rafael said the compact system was used to " successfully intercept scores of enemy threats". They added: The deployed laser systems are part of Rafael's portfolio of directed energy weapon systems, and complement the more powerful Iron Beam system, which is expected to be delivered to the IDF later this year. "Throughout the current war, the IAF studied and deployed the laser systems in the field, achieving outstanding interception rates that saved civilian lives and protected national assets." 8 8 How Israel's defence mechanisms work Iron Dome The Iron Dome is Israel's most famed missile shield. It intercepts short-range rockets as well as shells and mortar. Iron Dome batteries are scattered across Israel, with each base having three or four launchers. Each launcher has 20 interceptor missiles. A radar system detects rockets and calculates the trajectory, while a control system estimates the impact point. An operator then decides whether to launch rockets to intercept. David's Sling David's Sling destroys longer-range rockets, cruise missiles and medium or long-range ballistic missiles. It started operation in 2017 and like the Dome, only stops missiles that threaten civilians and infrastructure. Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 Arrow 2 wipes out short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles while they are flying through the upper atmosphere. It is able to detect missiles up to 500km away. Missiles from Arrow 2 can travel at nine times the speed of sounds - firing at up to 14 targets at once. Arrow 3 meanwhile intercepts long-range ballistic missiles as they travel at the top of their arc outside the Earth's atmosphere. Thaad system Thaad is a US-made system, designed to work in a similar way to David's Sling and intercept missiles towards the end of their flight. It can stop missiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere. Thaad batteries usually have six launchers, which each contain eight missiles. Iron Beam was first unveiled in 2014 and has been under development since - but is expected to come into operation before the year is through. It will be able to take down air threats such as rockets, mortar bombs, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles - and will be able to be programmed to follow low-flying targets before disabling them. Dr Daniel Gold, who spearheaded the creation of Iron Dome, vowed to "continue to advance this technology and deliver world-leading systems and capabilities to the IDF". The former Brigadier General, who now heads the Directorate of Defence Research & Development, said: 'The State of Israel is the first in the world to demonstrate large-scale operational laser interception capabilities. "Our vision for deploying laser weapons was realized during the war with tremendous technological and operational success.' According to Rafael, Iron Beam can shoot down flying objects like mortars, rockets, artillery, and UAVs with "pinpoint accuracy". 8 It has a range of several kilometres and costs almost nothing to run with it being a laser. As well as low cost, other benefits include unlimited number of firings, lower operational costs, and less manpower. But, unlike the Iron Dome, it's not an all-weather air defence system. The Iron Dome can be operated in all weather conditions - including fog, dust storm, low clouds and rain. But the Iron Beam system doesn't work effectively in wet conditions as the water particles absorb the laser's energy. It also needs a direct line of sight between the system and its target - making its placement far more important - and it has a much slower rate of fire. Although the laser beam makes its way to the target at the speed of light, it takes several seconds to destroy short-range missiles. The Iron Dome, however, destroys the target within a millisecond. The Sun's visit to an Iron Dome battery By Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital) THE Sun last month got a rare look at an Iron Dome battery system in southern Israel. Tucked along a track away from prying eyes close to a city of around 33,000, a group of highly trained IDF soldiers work tirelessly to repel missiles fired by Hamas from Gaza. Fenced off from the public, the batteries sit on a concrete base ready to be put into action at the drop of a hat. Firing units are primed and ready to go, with the launchers always pointing towards the sky as incoming threats can come at any moment. An IDF commander walked us through exactly how the remarkable system works and proudly told how they had successfully wiped out around 96 per cent of missiles fired their way. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, this exceptional kit is essential to Israel's defence. During my time in Israel last week, I saw first hand the devastation Hamas caused on October 7. Kibbutz Nir Oz was decimated by callous terrorists and around a quarter of its residents were either brutally killed or taken hostage. Hamas also unleashed a barrage of more than 5,000 missiles against Israeli targets that day in a bid to overwhelm its robust defence system. Since then, the terror group has continued to repeatedly blitz Israel - but thanks to systems like the Iron Dome it has managed to limit casualty numbers.
