Israel Israel successfully tests laser defense system able to intercept drones, missiles

[500]

Israel successfully tests laser defense system able to intercept drones, missiles​

Defense Minister Gantz says the 'Iron Beam' is a game-changer, will significantly improve Israel's defense capabilities; the high-end experimental system is expected to become operational in 1-2 years​

The Defense Ministry announced on Thursday that it successfully tested a high-powered laser defense system able to intercept missiles, drones, mortars, and anti-tank rockets in the first in a series of tests.

The system was developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems which will supply it to the Israeli Air Force with the very first laser launchers.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz who was present at some of the experiments said this achievement is a huge contribution to Israel's security.

"The Iron Beam system is a game-changer. We are able to significantly improve our defense capabilities, while also making it economically viable. It will take time until this kind of technology will become operational, but we are definitely on the right course to success," Gantz said.

The next stage will be a laser system for ground troops and the air force able to be used as a weapon.
The laser beam defense system was first tested against targets on the ground. Later stages tested its ability to intercept projectiles such as missiles and drones, in the air and day by day the system was tweaked and improved to make it more accurate.
The system is less effective in foggy or cloudy weather conditions, due to the need for a direct line of sight between the laser beam transmitter and the target, and that is a drawback.

At the end of the development process, the system will be relatively simple to use, as it will be mounted on two trucks with a launcher that will be attached to an external radar, a generator, and an operating caravan.

Since this is the first time that any fighting force will use laser-based systems as weapons, the Defense Ministry, the IDF, and Rafael are currently writing the activation protocol and safety manual for the system in order to make it operational.

The system will first compliment the Iron Dome missile defense system but may take a leading role in Israel's multilayered air defenses, which also include David's Sling, and Arrow 2 and 3 missile systems.
The Defense Ministry and Rafael conducted simulation of missile attacks based on the May 2021 fighting against Hamas.

When operational, it will free the more expensive Iron Dome batteries for more strategic missions, including the threat of missile fire from Lebanon and Syria.

Israel's defense industries, have invested so far more than NIS one billion in the project. And in the interest of continuing the development, the country intends to appeal to its allies across the globe and in the region, perhaps the Gulf States, to participate in the project and to finance its completion.

This is part of the regional defense alliance that Israel has formed and strengthened in recent months, with some Arab states in the region, in the interest of defense against Iranian threats.

Israel successfully tests laser defense system able to intercept drones, missiles

Defense Minister Gantz says the 'Iron Beam' is a game-changer, will significantly improve Israel's defense capabilities; the high-end experimental system is expected to become operational in 1-2 years

www.ynetnews.com

 

[goldsilver]

The way to make a real success out of this is in a situation where the Iron Dome is rendered unnecessary in battle, and all missiles are solely intercepted through cheap laser. To the extent where Israel can bomb the hell out of southern Beirut just for the fun of it + knowing not a single rocket can penetrate Israel with cheap laser.

 

[Combat-Master]

What's the power out put of the laser ?

 

[goldsilver]

$3.50 per interception, wow.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1514661060011245571

 

[Zafer]

How many of these lasers would be needed to match the capability of the Iron Dome.
Probably 2 dozen in one location.

 

[Yasar_TR]

@500 ,
Very effective! Do you now the power level of the laser being used and the usable operational range?
For a country like Israel where the skies are clear majority of time, this is great.
I guess the only drawback is the time the laser has to be in contact with the target which should be less and less as the system evolves.

 

[500]

How many of these lasers would be needed to match the capability of the Iron Dome.
Probably 2 dozen in one location.

Lasers ("Iron Beam" system) will not replace the Iron Dome, but supplement it.

The main problem of Iron Dome that it cant intercept rockets with range less than 4 km. Also using 100 K Iron Dome rocket against mortar shells and small very short range rockets is hard to afford.

Iron Beam - against mortars and very short range rockets, drones.
Iron Dome - against artillery rockets (Grad, Fajar, Smerch), cruise missiles, drones.
David's Sling - against short range ballistic missiles (Fatah-110, Scud-B) and cruise missiles.
Arrow-2 - against short and medium range ballistic missiles (Scud-B, Scud-C, Shahab).
Arrow-3 - against medium and inermediate range ballistic missiles in space (Scud-C, Shahab).

@500 ,
Very effective! Do you now the power level of the laser being used and the usable operational range?
For a country like Israel where the skies are clear majority of time, this is great.
I guess the only drawback is the time the laser has to be in contact with the target which should be less and less as the system evolves.

Range is up to 10 kms. Power - about 100 kWT. The best thing about Iron Beam system that it is using fiber laser, which is quite compact and easy and cheap to maintain.

In late 90-es and early 00-es Israel together with US developed THEL system, which used chemical laser. It was bulky and problematic. Thats why it was cancelled.

 

[Nilgiri]

Congrats to

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1514661060011245571

India should look into cooperation with Israel on this

@Gessler @Peace Lover @Paro @crixus et al.

 

[crixus]

Congrats to

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1514661060011245571

India should look into cooperation with Israel on this

@Gessler @Peace Lover @Paro @crixus et al.

This can be used against the drone used by trans border delivery of drugs and arms in Punjab and Kashmir . This can help is literally decreasing the casualties of Indian soldiers on LOC .

Hopefully Indian military mindset learned something from the military conflicts in last two years and learned the value of new technologies like Iron beam

 

[Anastasius]

The Defense Ministry announced on Thursday that it successfully tested a high-powered laser defense system able to intercept missiles, drones, mortars, and anti-tank rockets in the first in a series of tests.

I guess this is the advantage of using a fiber laser over a chemical one because of the higher density and absorption. Although I'm still a bit surprised it was fast enough to burn up a mortar round in mid-air.

 

[Yasar_TR]

I guess this is the advantage of using a fiber laser over a chemical one because of the higher density and absorption. Although I'm still a bit surprised it was fast enough to burn up a mortar round in mid-air.

100kWt of instantaneous thermal energy is a lot of directed energy at one point.

 

[Jacop]

Lasers ("Iron Beam" system) will not replace the Iron Dome, but supplement it.

The main problem of Iron Dome that it cant intercept rockets with range less than 4 km. Also using 100 K Iron Dome rocket against mortar shells and small very short range rockets is hard to afford.

Iron Beam - against mortars and very short range rockets, drones.
Iron Dome - against artillery rockets (Grad, Fajar, Smerch), cruise missiles, drones.
David's Sling - against short range ballistic missiles (Fatah-110, Scud-B) and cruise missiles.
Arrow-2 - against short and medium range ballistic missiles (Scud-B, Scud-C, Shahab).
Arrow-3 - against medium and inermediate range ballistic missiles in space (Scud-C, Shahab).


Range is up to 10 kms. Power - about 100 kWT. The best thing about Iron Beam system that it is using fiber laser, which is quite compact and easy and cheap to maintain.

In late 90-es and early 00-es Israel together with US developed THEL system, which used chemical laser. It was bulky and problematic. Thats why it was cancelled.

לבריאות

This system is actually like another part of the big lego. A complement to Iron dome

 

[Ardabas34]

Couple of places mentioned this development as a revolution. I am asking genuinely, how is this system different than Roketsan Alka which we used in Libya to down a Wing Loong 2 belonging to UAE in 2019? Of course other than improved range etc

Here it says too

Since this is the first time that any fighting force will use laser-based systems as weapons...

Turkey uses laser weapon technology to shoot down Chinese UAV Wing Loo

Really important news often goes unnoticed. They occur, no one notices them, but the events mentioned in this news often have consequences that later, havi

www.armyrecognition.com

Why is this ignored?

Edit: I asked this very same question in Tolga Özbeks channel. He said Alka's specifications are inadequate to down Wing Loong II, that news is an urban legend. Alka is for tactical rotary wing drones.

 

[mifletz]

Looks like there could be a replay of last year's skirmish

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkrdw5c4c#autoplay

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skdlhv04q#autoplay

 

[Yasar_TR]

Looks like there could be a replay of last year's skirmish

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkrdw5c4c#autoplay

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skdlhv04q#autoplay

Expensive exercise to prove that iron dome works!
But to do it second time is silly!
This is when you need your “Iron Beam” completely operational with all the bells and whistles in full working order.

 

[Adıvar]

? Cover drone with reflective sheet against laser beam

 

[500]

Couple of places mentioned this development as a revolution. I am asking genuinely, how is this system different than Roketsan Alka which we used in Libya to down a Wing Loong 2 belonging to UAE in 2019? Of course other than improved range etc

Here it says too

Turkey uses laser weapon technology to shoot down Chinese UAV Wing Loo

Really important news often goes unnoticed. They occur, no one notices them, but the events mentioned in this news often have consequences that later, havi

www.armyrecognition.com

Why is this ignored?

Edit: I asked this very same question in Tolga Özbeks channel. He said Alka's specifications are inadequate to down Wing Loong II, that news is an urban legend. Alka is for tactical rotary wing drones.

ALKA is designed against mini-micro drones and IEDs. Max range - 750 m, max target speed - 150 km/h

Roketsan - ALKA NEW Network Enabled Weapon

www.roketsan.com.tr

ALKA DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPON SYSTEM – Roketsan

Roketsan - ALKA NEW Network Enabled Weapon

www.roketsan.com.tr

It is similar to Israeli LITE BEAM system. IRON BEAM is designed primary vs. mortar shells and rockets.

 

[500]

The Challenge​

Increasingly sophisticated airborne threats – including mortars, rockets, and UAVs as well as swarms of mini-UAVs – are being faced by both military forces and population centers. Since current Kinetic interceptor systems are expensive and not always sufficient to counter some of these threats, powerful new solutions are required that meet the needs of this new reality.

The Solution​

Any multilayer air defense array consists of a number of various types of interceptors. HEL may serve as a complementary interceptor, having the advantages of engagement at the speed of light, unlimited magazine, and negligible cost per interception. RAFAEL is currently developing two HEL systems, IRON BEAM and LITE BEAM.

IRON BEAM, a 100kW class High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS), is expected to become the first operational system in its class. IRON BEAM is designed to intercept a wide range of threats such as RAM and UAVs from a distance of a few hundred meters to up to several kilometers. The system can be integrated on multiple platforms and may be a complementary HEL interceptor to any multilayer defense array.

LITE BEAM is a 7.5kW HEL interceptor for C-mUAVs and ground targets such as IEDs and UXOs, neutralizing targets from a distance of a few hundred meters to up to 2000 meters. The first proven prototype of LITE BEAM is already available.

Benefits​

• Neutralizes a wide range of threats with pinpoint accuracy
• Protects military forces and civilian populations
• Uses an unlimited magazine
• Causes limited collateral damage
• Costs almost nothing per intercept
• Integrates with a variety of platforms and systems

https://www.rafael.co.il/worlds/land/iron-beam/