Rafael unveils new laser interception systems, will showcase them at Paris Air Show

After the Israeli military last week disclosed it had been using a laser interception system to shoot down Hezbollah drones amid the fighting in Lebanon last year, the Rafael defense firm unveiled on Wednesday several new versions of its Iron Beam and other laser systems.

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems said it would showcase its family of “high-energy laser weapon systems” at the Paris Air Show, set to be held later this month.

The systems included the Iron Beam 450, an upgraded version of the in-development Iron Beam, which is set to be delivered to the Israel Defense Forces by the end of 2025.

Rafael said the Iron Beam 450 is “widely considered the most advanced high-energy laser air defense system in the world,” and is capable of shooting down drones, rockets, and other aerial threats up to distances of 10 kilometers (6 miles).

“These upgrades enable longer-range interceptions, faster engagement cycles and even more precise targeting, while maintaining its unique advantages: speed-of-light threat neutralization, negligible per-intercept cost and wide-area defense against rapid and complex aerial threats,” Rafael said.

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 main downside of a laser system is that it does not function well in low visibility, including heavy cloud cover or other inclement weather.

Alongside the powerful system, Rafael was set to reveal at the airshow 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, the company said.

The defense firm also said it will unveil the Lite Beam, which is a lightweight, compact, and lower-powered laser interceptor designed to be mounted on armored personnel carriers or other armored vehicles during ground operations.

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.

A lower-powered 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, the military said.