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Iron Beam

The IDF’s first operational Iron Beam high-power laser air defense system, displayed during a handover ceremony at a Rafael Advanced Defense Systems facility, December 28, 2025. (Defense Minister's Office)
May 1, 2026, 2:01 pm
Israel sent laser system to UAE to help intercept Iranian missiles and drones — report
Sources say Jerusalem also sent a surveillance system and other weapons to the Gulf state, marking a major development in security cooperation with the Abraham Accords ally
By ToI Staff
In this photo released by the Iranian Army on August 25, 2022, a drone is launched in a military drone drill in Iran. (Iranian Army via AP)
March 27, 2026, 5:44 am
Cheap and elusive, drones put incessant pressure on Israel’s evolving air defenses
As Iran and Hezbollah deploy waves of low-cost UAVs, Jerusalem turns to layered defenses, lessons from Ukraine and emerging technologies to meet the threat
By Stav Levaton
The IDF’s first operational Iron Beam high-power laser air defense system, displayed during a handover ceremony at a Rafael Advanced Defense Systems facility, December 28, 2025. (Defense Minister's Office)
March 16, 2026, 7:07 pm
Surge in drone attacks sharpens focus on laser defense
Large initial investment in systems like those being developed by Israel, China and Ukraine could help shrink cost of interception to just ‘pennies per shot,’ says one designer
By AFP
The IDF’s first operational Iron Beam high-power laser air defense system, displayed during a handover ceremony at a Rafael Advanced Defense Systems facility, December 28, 2025. (Defense Minister's Office)
December 28, 2025, 6:38 pm
Defense Ministry hands IDF first combat-ready Iron Beam laser interception system
High-power aerial defense system has successfully intercepted rockets, mortars and drones in testing, is set to be absorbed by the Israeli Air Force
By Stav Levaton and Emanuel Fabian
Signals officers of the C4I and Cyber Defense Directorate are seen in an undated photo published by the army on December 2, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
December 3, 2025, 2:00 pm
Daily Briefing Dec. 3: Day 789 – IDF cyber division using radio waves to take out attack drones
Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian on the announced reopening of the Rafah border crossing, massive military manpower needs, and the Iron Beam hitting the IDF’s shelves soon
By Amanda Borschel-Dan and Emanuel Fabian
The 'Iron Beam' laser-based air defense system is seen intercepting a target over southern Israel, March 2022. (Defense Ministry)
December 1, 2025, 11:58 am
IDF to receive ‘Iron Beam’ laser interceptors at the end of the month
The system, which has been in development since 2014, will ‘fundamentally change’ rules of engagement, Defense Ministry official says; next-gen versions already in the works
By Emanuel Fabian
The 'Iron Beam' laser-based air defense system is seen intercepting a target during a test over southern Israel, in a handout photo issued on September 17, 2025. (Defense Ministry)
September 17, 2025, 8:03 pm
Laser-based ‘Iron Beam’ interception system declared operational
System set to be delivered to IDF by end of year after successful final tests; defense minister says Israel ‘first country to possess this capability’
By Emanuel Fabian
Illustrative: A Rafael laser interceptor system, in a handout photo issued by the defense firm on June 4, 2025. (Rafael Advanced Defense Systems)
June 4, 2025, 8:57 pm
Rafael unveils new laser interception systems, will showcase them at Paris Air Show
Israeli firm says family of ‘high-energy laser weapon systems’ includes mobile interceptors that can be mounted on trucks, APCs to target drones, rockets and other aerial threats
By Emanuel Fabian
A laser interception system deployed to northern Israel, in an undated photo published by the Defense Ministry on May 28, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
June 1, 2025, 2:16 pm
Daily Briefing June 1: Day 604 – IDF moves one step closer to Jewish (state) space lasers
Military reporter Emanuel Fabian on the war in Gaza, murky reporting surrounding the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s aid efforts, and the IDF’s most recent airstrikes on Syria
By Amanda Borschel-Dan and Emanuel Fabian
The 'Iron Beam' laser-based air defense system is seen intercepting a target over southern Israel, March 2022. (Defense Ministry)
October 28, 2024, 6:30 pm
‘Iron Beam’ laser-based interception system set to become operational in 2025
Originally slated for this year, system uses lasers to intercept rockets and drones for a fraction of the cost of the Iron Dome, but does not function well during inclement weather
By Emanuel Fabian
South Korean army soldiers patrol along the barbed-wire fence in Paju, near the border with North Korea, June 27, 2024. (Ahn Young-joon/AP)
July 11, 2024, 10:06 am
In world first, South Korea to deploy ‘StarWars’ drone-targeting laser system
As Israel is still developing its Iron Beam, Seoul unveils new cheap weapons that shoot down aerial threats by zapping them with beam of light to burn engines or other parts
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Frank St. John, chief operating officer, Lockheed Martin with Yoav Har-Even, Rafael CEO and president, next to an Iron Beam defense system, in Israel, December 5, 2022. (Lockheed Martin)
December 5, 2022, 1:57 pm
Lockheed Martin joins Iron Beam project to build variant of system for US market
American defense contractor signs agreement with Rafael to help develop, test, manufacture laser-based air defense system, which has been hailed as a ‘game-changer’
By Emanuel Fabian
Firefighters work after a drone attack on buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine, October 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Roman Hrytsyna, File)
October 22, 2022, 10:15 pm
Report: Ukraine not cooperating with Israel on proposed missile alert system
Channel 13 says Israeli officials believe Kyiv may be unhappy with the offer, as Jerusalem is refusing to supply it with interceptor systems
By ToI Staff
File: An Iron Dome anti-missile system fires an interceptor missile as rockets are fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel, August 6, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
October 20, 2022, 3:27 pm
Ukraine officially asks Israel for Iron Dome, Iron Beam, other defense tech
In letter, Ukrainian government requests laser system still in development, US-made Patriot missiles and more; says its ‘expects positive reaction’
By ToI Staff
Batteries of Israel's Iron Dome defence missile system, designed to intercept and destroy incoming short-range rockets and artillery shells, are stationed in southern Israel on August 6, 2022. (Jack Guez/AFP)
August 7, 2022, 11:19 am
Iron Dome at 97% success rate after 580 rockets fired from Gaza since Friday
Missile defense system has intercepted 200 projectiles, while 120 fell inside Gaza; interception rate has gradually improved since first use in IDF operation in 2012
By ToI Staff
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