Laser-based ‘Iron Beam’ interception system declared operational
Israel’s high-powered laser interception system, dubbed “Iron Beam,” has been declared operational after completing development and final tests, and is set to be delivered to the military by the end of the year, the Defense Ministry and manufacturer Rafael said on Wednesday.
The Iron Beam has been in development for over a decade; it was first unveiled in 2014. During the current war, a lower-powered version of the system was used by the Israel Defense Forces to shoot down Hezbollah drones launched from Lebanon.
The ministry said its Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D), the Israeli Air Force, and the Rafael defense firm “successfully completed an advanced series of operational tests, which lasted several weeks, to demonstrate the capabilities of the high-power laser system.”
It said the test involved the interception of rockets, mortars, and drones by the Iron Beam.
“The series of tests, conducted at a testing ground in southern Israel, concludes the development process and constitutes the final stage before delivering the system for operational use in the IDF,” the ministry said.
In a symbolic move, the ministry renamed the system in Hebrew from Magen Or(light shield) to Or Eitan(Eitan’s light), after Cpt. Eitan Oster, 22, a commander in the Egoz Commando Unit, who was killed fighting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon in October 2024. Oster’s father, who works for the DDR&D, was among the “initiators and developers” of the Iron Beam project, the ministry said.
Cpt. Eitan Itzhak Oster, whose death fighting in Lebanon was announced on October 2, 2024. (IDF)
The Iron Beam is not meant to replace the Iron Dome or Israel’s other air defense systems, but to supplement and complement them, shooting down smaller projectiles and leaving larger ones for the more robust missile-based batteries such as the David’s Sling and Arrow systems.
As long as there is a constant source of energy for the laser, there is no risk of it ever running out of ammunition. Officials have hailed it as a potential “game-changer” in the battle against projectile attacks.
The ‘Iron Beam’ laser-based air defense system is seen during a test in southern Israel, in a handout photo issued on September 17, 2025. (Defense Ministry)
The main downside of a laser system is that it does not function well in low visibility, including heavy cloud cover or other inclement weather.
A lower-powered and shorter-range version of the laser interceptor system used by the IDF’s newly revived 946th Air Defense Battalion, which operates anti-drone systems, shot down some 35 Hezbollah drones over northern Israel last year.
With the Iron Beam being declared operational, “a significant leap in the operational capabilities of the Air Defense Array is expected, through the long-range laser weapon system,” the ministry added.
In June, Rafael showcased at the Paris Air Show its family of “high-energy laser weapon systems,” including the Iron Beam 450, an upgraded version of the Iron Beam; the Iron Beam M, a compact and mobile version of the laser interceptor, designed to be mounted on a truck and used by ground forces or to protect strategic sites; and the Lite Beam, a lightweight, compact, and lower-powered laser interceptor designed to be mounted on armored personnel carriers or other armored vehicles during ground operations.
The ‘Iron Beam’ laser-based air defense system is seen intercepting a target during a test over southern Israel, in a handout photo issued on September 17, 2025. (Defense Ministry)
Rafael also said it was developing a maritime version of the laser interceptor, which could be deployed on Navy boats to protect assets at sea.
Wednesday’s announcement was hailed by officials, with Defense Minister Israel Katz saying the Iron Beam “places the State of Israel at the forefront of global military technology and makes the State of Israel the first country to possess this capability.”
“This is not only a moment of national pride, but a historic milestone for our defense envelope: a fast, precise interception at marginal cost that joins the existing defensive tools and changes the threat equation,” he said.
