| Iron Beam | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Laserair defense system |
| Place of origin | Israel |
| Service history | |
| In service | Late 2025 (est.)[1][2] |
| Used by | Israel |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Rafael Advanced Defense Systems |
| Designed | 2010–2025 |
| Manufacturer | Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems |
| Unit cost | $10s million for a system, fewdollars per interception |
Iron Beam, officiallyLaser Dome (Hebrew:אור איתן,romanized: Or Eitan,lit. 'Eitan's Light')[3] is adirected-energyair defense system developed by Israelidefense contractorRafael Advanced Defense Systems.[4] It was unveiled at theSingapore Airshow on February 11, 2014.[5]
The system is designed to destroy short-range rockets,artillery, andmortar bombs, and is expected to be deployed in October 2025.[6] It has a range of up to 10 km (6.2 mi), complementing theIron Dome system which was designed to intercept missiles launched from a greater distance.[4][7] In addition, the system could also interceptunmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs; drones) at a cost of US$3 per interception.[8] Iron Beam will constitute the fifth element of Israel's integrated missile defense system,[4] in addition toArrow 2,Arrow 3,David's Sling andIron Dome.[9]
The system's original name was "Iron Beam". It was later renamed "Magen Or" ("Shield of Light"). In September 2025, it was decided that the system would be called in Hebrew "Or Eitan" ("Eitan’s Light") in memory of CaptainEitan Oster,[10] an officer and combat soldier in the Egoz reconnaissance unit who was killed during the ground maneuver in Lebanon in theGaza war. He was the son of Dov Oster, one of the system's key designers and developers.[11] In English, the system will retain the name Iron Beam.
Iron Beam uses afiber laser to generate alaser beam to destroy an airborne target. Whether acting as a stand-alone system or with external cueing as part of an air-defense system, a threat is detected by a surveillance system and tracked by vehicle platforms in order to engage.
The problem for laser weapons is that air density disperses laser energy, with larger beams facing more atmospheric interference. Iron Beam's solution is to shoot hundreds of small, coin-sized beams at a target, which individually face less dispersion. When a beam is detected through a telescopic reflection to have hit the target, more beams are redirected to the spot to concentrate energy until it is destroyed.[12]
An Iron Beam battery is composed of anair defense radar, acommand and control (C2) unit, and two HEL (high-energy laser) systems. Initially intended to be mobile[13] and able to be used standalone,[8] it was later rendered non-mobile to address weight and power availability concerns and integrated into Iron Dome to reduce complexity.[14] It is capable of 100kW of power focused on the diameter of a coin at a distance of 10 km (6.2 mi).[15][16]
The main benefits of using adirected energy weapon over conventional missile interceptors are lower costs per shot, unlimited number of firings, lower operational costs, and less manpower. There is also no interceptor debris to fall on the area protected. It has been argued, since 2014 at least, that a directed energy weapon could be the missing element to Israel's existing layered defence strategies.[17]
Disadvantages of energy weapons include the requirement for the beam to penetrate the atmosphere; clouds, rain, battlefield smoke or a high concentration of sand dust in the air (not atypical in the Middle-East conditions) may prevent its use. The beam must be held on the target, which may be spinning, for several seconds (the "dwell time") before enough energy is delivered to destroy or severely damage it. This makes it difficult to stop a barrage of several missiles even if the system is effective, so that volley fire of interceptors continues to be required. There is also the possibility of rockets being sheathed in heat-resistant material to withstand an energy beam for longer.[18] Energy weapons may be more effective against slower-flying drones, with relatively delicate rotors, control flaps, and guidance systems vulnerable to shorter laser attack, than fast rockets. This technology may also prove effective against paratroopers.
The cost of each interception is negligible, unlike expensive missile interceptors – a few dollars direct cost per shot, and aroundUS$2,000 to cover all costs, against $100,000 to $150,000 per interceptor firing.[19] However, setting up and deploying an energy weapon such as Iron Beam is costly; despite the low cost per firing, it may not be the most cost-efficient defence.[18]
On July 18, 1996, the United States and Israel entered into an agreement to produce a cooperativeTactical High Energy Laser (THEL), called the Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrator, which would utilizedeuterium fluoridechemical laser technologies. THEL conducted test firing in FY1998, andInitial Operating Capability (IOC) was planned in FY1999. However, this was significantly delayed. In 2000 and 2001 THEL shot down 28Katyushaartillery rockets and fiveartillery shells. On November 4, 2002, THEL shot down an incoming artillery shell. In 2005, the US and Israel decided to cancel the THEL after the project budget had surpassed $300 million. The decision came as a result of "its bulkiness, high costs and poor anticipated results on the battlefield."[20]
In 2007,Ehud Barak requested to reconsider projectSkyguard (the next phase of THEL) in order to fightQassam attacks.[21]
As of 2016[update], the Iron Beam had been funded mainly by theIsraeli Ministry of Defense (MoD), with Rafael pursuing increasing the range of the system and partnering with other companies to further develop the prototype.[22][23] In December 2022, Rafael andLockheed Martin announced a joint effort to develop a laser defense system based on the Iron Beam project. The aim is to produce a system made up of a pair ofsolid-state lasers that, when combined, could boost power up to 300 kW, and to use more than one beam to simultaneously attack multiple targets.[24]
Based on 14 years ofresearch and development insolid-state lasers as of 2024, the new Iron Beam system is under development by Rafael (in collaboration with Lockheed Martin for the US market[25]) and funded by the Israeli Ministry of Defense. The Iron Beam concept, as a part of a multi-layered defense, was announced at the Singapore Airshow in 2014.[26] A demonstrator Laser Weapons System was operating by 2017.[27]
In April 2022, the Israeli Ministry of Defense and Rafael announced that in a series of experiments the system successfully shot down drones, rockets,mortar bombs, andantitank missiles atWhite Sands Missile Range.[28] The military pushed for an earlier deployment, possibly due to concerns that there would not be sufficient Iron Dome projectiles to combat attacks; Prime MinisterNaftali Bennett said in February 2022 that Israel would deploy the system within the year.[29] However, in October 2022 Rafael said it expects to take "two to three years" to deploy the 100-kW weapon operationally.[14][30]
In May 2023, Rafael unveiled the Naval Iron Beam meant for installation on ships. The system is designed to emit 100 kW out to "several kilometers" to protect vessels againstdrone swarms andanti-ship missiles. The naval version maintains the same turret external dimensions and can be configured to be integrated onto ship superstructures or in containerized modules to be embarked when needed. The Naval Iron Beam is planned to be operational within four to five years and first be fitted to theIsraeli Navy'sReshef-classcorvette.[31][32]
In October 2023, the Ministry of Defense and Rafael announced that they would deploy Iron Beam to the southern border with theGaza Strip to test it with rocket barrages fired by Hamas duringGaza war.[33]
Col. Nir Weingold, head of the IsraeliAdministration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure (Maf'at, מפא"ת), said in January 2024 "The Iron Beam will be implemented in the Iron Dome. Then it will decide whether to use the laser or a missile to shoot down the threat. We believe it will be operational by the end of 2025."[1][2]
A smaller adaptation called the Lite Beam was displayed in October 2024. It can be mounted on light vehicles and destroy drones, rockets, mortars, and IEDs. The beam has a power output of 10 kW and a range of 2,000 m. The Lite Beam is combined with theSamson 30 mm RWS to provide multiple force protection options for mobile units against drone threats.[34][35]
On 28 May 2025, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced the world’s first-ever combat use of high-power laser systems to intercept aerial threats. They stated the engagements happened in October 2024 during theGaza War, and showed a video of the defence system burning through a drone; 40 Hezbollah UAVs were intercepted. The Israeli MOD said that no Iron Beam components were involved, and Israeli media described it as a “scaled-down version” of the definitive system. This led to speculation that an off-shoot of the actual Iron Beam was deployed, such as the Lite Beam or Iron Beam-M, a system based on the larger version but modified for mobility.[36][37][38][39]
Military equipment produced byRafael Advanced Defense Systems | ||
|---|---|---|
| Missiles, rockets, and projectiles |  | |
| Remote weapon stations | ||
| Air-defense systems | ||
| Surface vehicles | ||
| Electronic Warfare | ||
| Miscellaneous | ||
1 Joint venture withIAI.2 Joint venture withDSTA.3 Joint venture withRaytheon.4 Joint venture withHatehof.5 Joint venture withNorthrop Grumman. | ||