Israel has confirmed the operational use of laser air-defense systems to shoot down drones during its ongoing conflict that began after Hamas’s attack in October 2023.
According to Israel’s Defense Ministry, over 40 drones—primarily launched from Lebanon—have been intercepted by laser weapons. This marks the first public and documented instance of such systems being deployed successfully in combat were supported with video footage.
How Does it Work?
The video shows the laser beam slicing through the drone’s wings, causing the drone to lose control and fall to Earth.
Israel’s laser weapon is a smaller, mobile version of the upcoming Iron Beam, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. These tactical units are likely vehicle-mounted and designed for quick deployment to protect mobile forces or specific installations.
It uses a high-energy laser beam to heat and destroy the structural components of incoming threats, such as drones, mortar shells, and potentially rockets.
The Iron Beam system is integrated with advanced radar and electro-optical sensors to detect and track aerial threats. Once a drone or projectile is identified, targeting systems lock onto it, predicting its trajectory in real time. A high-power laser, likely in the 100–150 kW range, is then fired at the target. The laser dwells on a single point of the target for a few seconds, overheating the surface.
The laser can dwell on the fuselage, igniting the fuel, or as was shown in the recent video, on control surfaces.
Cheap Shot
The laser defense systems have long been pursued as a low-cost alternative to traditional missile-based interceptors. Each laser shot costs only a few dollars, compared to $50,000 to $100,000 for an Iron Dome missile.