Israel’s defense ministry has signed a 2 billion shekel ($536 million) agreement with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems to scale production of the Iron Beam, a laser-based missile defense system. Expected to be operational within a year, Iron Beam is designed to intercept various aerial threats, including rockets, drones, and cruise missiles. This high-power laser system will work alongside the Iron Dome, which relies on radar-guided missiles for short-range threat interception. Defense Ministry Director Eyal Zamir called the Iron Beam contract a milestone that marks a “new era in warfare.” Experts highlight Iron Beam as a cost-effective solution, offering a cheaper alternative to Israel’s existing interceptor missiles for neutralizing enemy projectiles.
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