Latest news with #YehudaElmakayes
India.com
a day ago
- India.com
This tiny country stuns US, China, Russia, India with its new air defence weapon..., country is...
(Image: social media) New Delhi: As time progresses, there are significant changes in the ways of warfare. Recently, Israel has achieved a feat that superpowers like the United States, China, India, and Russia have yet to accomplish. During the war with Gaza, Israel used a laser weapon to shoot down enemy drones. This makes Israel the first country in the world to do so. The defense system that shoots down enemy drones with the help of lasers was developed by the Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. In this astonishing system, a beam of intense light is focused on the enemy drone, and within moments, it is destroyed. You may be wondering what is in that light that causes the drone to fall? The answer is that the laser light contains heat, which incinerates the drone. The laser system manufacturing company stated that during this war, the air force personnel tested this laser system in the field and achieved very good results, saving many lives and safeguarding the country's assets. Brigadier General Yehuda Elmakayes of Israel's Ministry of Defense stated that this is the first time a laser beam of such power has been used in real combat and success has been achieved. A video has also been shared showing how the laser beam burns the wing of an enemy drone, bringing it down. This technology has shot down at least three drones. The structure of these drones is similar to those sent towards Israel by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthi rebels from Yemen, shaped like a cross with a V-shaped tail at the back. There will be savings in money. The Israeli army is now preparing to use this system with its large laser system network Iron Beam. Experts believe that this technology is very beneficial for shooting down enemy drones, eliminating the need for expensive missile interceptors.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Watch: Israel Becomes First Country To Shoot Down Enemy Drones With Laser Weapon
Israel has become the first country in the world to use laser weapons to shoot down enemy drones during the ongoing war in Gaza. The Israeli Air Force's Aerial Defense Array used the prototype laser air defences during the "Swords of Iron War" to reach a significant milestone in modern warfare, where the use of laser weapons has long been theorised. Developed by Israel-based defence company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, these energy weapons direct an intense beam of light at a target and use heat to damage or destroy it. "Throughout the current war, the IAF, including its Aerial Defense Array soldiers, studied and deployed the laser systems in the field, achieving outstanding interception rates that saved civilian lives and protected national assets," Rafael said in a statement. Brigadier General Yehuda Elmakayes, head of the ministry's defence and research directorate, confirmed that the use of prototypes "culminated" with the "world's first successful high-power laser interceptions on the battlefield". "We are currently integrating these insights into the systems under development, while expanding the range of laser-based systems to protect Israeli civilians and IDF forces," he said. Laser beam weapon in action Video shared by Israel's Ministry of Defense showcased the laser weapon system in action as it made at least three interceptions. In one of the skirmishes, the laser could be seen igniting the drone's wingtip, causing it to burn and crash. These enemy flying weapons appeared similar to the types of drone threats Israel has faced from Hamas, Hezbollah, as well as the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. The drones have a crucifix-like design with a V-tail at the rear. This is amazing 🇮🇱 During the last war, Israel conducted operational testing of the Magen Or laser interception system, mainly in the northern region, and the system recorded operational successes in the field of interception. — Adi 🎗 (@Adi13) May 28, 2025 BREAKING - During recent operations, the Israeli Defense Forces deployed the 'Magen Or' (Shield of Light) laser interception system in the northern sector for testing. The system successfully neutralized multiple hostile UAVs, including four Hezbollah drones, proving its… — Vanguard Intel Group 🛡 (@vanguardintel) May 28, 2025 The Israeli military intends to use the laser system in tandem with the powerful Iron Beam system," a larger network of similar systems that's in the works. Experts believe that laser systems are useful for eliminating cheaper enemy targets like drones rather than spending expensive missile interceptors.
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Israel becomes the first country to down drones in combat with a laser weapon
Israel's military used new laser weapons to kill enemy drones, making it the first country to do so in a war. It marks a major development in the fielding and use of these experimental weapons, which militaries worldwide are developing to deepen their defenses against drones and missiles, reducing the strain on other missiles and other projectiles. Israel's Ministry of Defense announced that soldiers from Israeli Air Force Aerial Defense Array deployed and operated a high-power laser system prototype, which successfully intercepted enemy threats. It is a big step closer to strategists' vision of a future battlefield where the expanding threat of missiles and drones can be countered by the zaps of laser weapons that have an unlimited magazine. A video shared by the Israeli Ministry of Defense showed the laser systems in action, in at least 3 interceptions. One engagement shows the laser igniting the drone's wingtip, causing it to spiral and crash. Brig. Gen. Yehuda Elmakayes, head of the ministry's defense and research directorate, said prototypes have previously been deployed "culminating in the world's first successful high-power laser interceptions on the battlefield." Feedback from the use of the weapons will continue to inform their use and development, he and other officials said in a statement shared with BI. The systems are made by Israeli-based defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. They're directed energy weapons that point an intense beam of light at a target and use heat to damage or destroy it; these processes demand pinpoint accuracy and high power. The defense ministry said the weapons "complement the more powerful Iron Beam system," a larger network of similar systems that's in the works. Iron Beam is estimated to cost $500 million and would add another layer to Israel's layered air defenses — one especially useful against the kinds of drones that Hamas and Hezbollah wield. Laser weapons have been a priority for militaries around world, especially in the Middle East, where countries are racing to field the technology. Besides Israel, Saudia Arabia is using Chinese systems to develop laser air defense capacities, while the United Arab Emirates is working on its own system. The US, too, is actively working on laser prototypes, such as the AN/SEQ-3 Laser Weapon System made by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, as well as microwave emitters and other directed-energy weapons. Officials have suggested lasers are particularly useful for taking out cheaper enemy targets like drones rather than expending expensive missile interceptors. That's been at the forefront of conversations around conflicts in waters around the Middle East, where the US has expended over a billion dollars in munitions to shoot down Houthi drones. With Israel's landmark use of the weapon, Rafael CEO Yoav Tourgeman said the system "will fundamentally change the defense equation by enabling fast, precise, cost-effective interceptions, unmatched by any existing system." There remain issues, though, surrounding the amount of power and accuracy needed for a laser to destroy its target. Lasers have struggled to work around water or through clouds or smoke, because moisture or other particles diffuse the laser's beam. And even a functional laser weapon requires a high-voltage energy source and an accurate sensor system that are likely to become targets of attack.
