Israel shows off laser system to shoot down missiles, drones and artillery shells

Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has introduced the IRON BEAM 450 high-energy laser weapon system, Defense Blog reports.

The new product was shown at the DSEI defense exhibition in London. It is noted that the system was created to intercept and destroy a wide range of air threats with high accuracy, almost zero costs and minimal side effects.

The company says the IRON BEAM 450 can shoot down conventional and cruise missiles, drone swarms, and artillery shells. The system is designed to support both land and naval operations and can be integrated into air and missile defense systems.

Rafael also claims that the new product works with an "unlimited magazine", which eliminates logistical problems with traditional ammunition, and also hits the target at the speed of light.

It takes a few seconds to hit, as the concentrated beam focuses on a critical point on an approaching object, allowing it to destroy or neutralize a threat in the air.

"IRON BEAM provides protection for ground forces, sensitive facilities, and civilian population centers," Rafael said in an official product release. "The system neutralizes multiple threat types including RAM [rocket, artillery, and mortar] and cruise missiles as well as UAVs – with rapid retargeting enabling engagement with swarms of attacking drones," the company noted.

In addition, it is claimed that the IRON BEAM 450 operator station can control the laser installation remotely.

Rafael noted that IRON BEAM already has the trust of the Israeli Ministry of Defense and is being developed in partnership with the country's defense department.

By the way, the Israeli Ministry of Defense recently announced that the local company XTEND won tender for the supply of thousands of FPV drones to the Land Forces of the National Defense Army. We are talking about the supply of drones worth millions of US dollars.