Overview

• The Defense Ministry and Rafael said weeks of trials in southern Israel validated interceptions of rockets, mortars, aircraft and UAVs in a complete operational configuration.
• Initial units are slated for integration into IDF air-defense arrays by the end of 2025 as a complement to Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow.
• The Iron Beam 450 configuration delivers about 100 kilowatts of laser power with an operational reach of roughly 10 kilometers.
• Officials emphasize a sharp cost advantage, with laser shots costing only a few dollars compared with tens of thousands for missile interceptors.
• Caveats include weather sensitivity and multi‑second dwell time on targets, and the system’s Hebrew name was changed to Or Eitan in memory of Cpt. Eitan Oster.