Overview
- Israel’s Ministry of Defense and Rafael presented the system in late December and transferred it to the IDF, declaring it operationally mature.
- Iron Beam is designed to intercept rockets, mortars, drones and missiles using a laser of up to 100 kW, with a reported effective range of about 10 kilometers.
- Rafael detailed multiple variants tailored to different platforms and missions, including Iron Beam‑M (roughly 30–50 kW), Lite Beam (around 10 kW) and a 100 kW naval version.
- Defense officials emphasize near‑instant engagements and low per‑shot energy costs that could reduce reliance on expensive interceptor missiles supplied by the United States.
- Combat testing and field use reportedly neutralized about forty drones, and interest from foreign buyers has been reported, including inquiries from Gulf and European countries.