Katz warns Israel’s enemies, says Iron Beam will soon be ready

Defense Minister Israel Katz cautions Israel’s enemies against testing Jerusalem’s “decisive” defense capabilities and confirms that the Iron Beam laser interception system is nearly operational during a visit to the Rafael defense technology firm.

“Our enemies should know and understand clearly — we have many means to deliver a decisive blow. If they raise a hand against Israel again—that hand will be severed,” says Katz while touring Rafael’s facilities alongside company leadership and top defense officials.

The advanced Iron Beam technology, which uses lasers to intercept rockets and drones for a fraction of the cost of the Iron Dome, will be implemented later this year, according to the Defense Ministry.

“The laser system is the weapon of the future, capable of neutralizing an entire layer of threats…with outstanding and continuously improving results. Israeli citizens need this protection,” says Katz.

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.

According to the Defense Ministry, the Iron Beam doesn’t run out of ammunition so long as there’s an energy source.

The defense minister hails critical technology developed by Rafael, such as the Iron Dome and David’s Sling, which have protected Israeli citizens from aerial threats over the past year and a half, the Defense Ministry says.

Since the war in Gaza began on October 7 of last year with the Hamas invasion and massacre, more than 26,000 rockets, missiles, and drones  have been launched at Israel from multiple fronts.