Israel acknowledges use of laser weapons to intercept drones

The Defense Ministry also released footage of what it said were the lasers intercepting fixed-wing drones in the sky. Bloomberg

Israel has deployed laser weapons during its ongoing war to deflect “scores” of aerial attacks, including from drones, the Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. This is the first time the country has acknowledged the use of directed-energy technologies in the battlefield.

The systems were described as a less powerful “prototype” of the 100-kilowatt Iron Beam laser interceptor that will be operational in Israel by the end of the year. The Defense Ministry also released footage of what it said were the lasers intercepting fixed-wing drones in the sky.

The ministry did not provide specifics about when the systems were tested or data about interception rates. Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the futuristic weapon, saying its adoption was poised to “change the rules of the game in the region.”

The announcement suggests that Israel may soon pull ahead of other countries in the race for laser weapons. Nations have pursued the technology for decades, but efforts to scale lasers have been complicated by significant technical difficulties.

Israel’s air defenses have faced over 26,000 aerial attacks from missiles, drones and rockets since Oct. 2023. Most of the projectiles, which were fired from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Iraq and Yemen, were intercepted by the Iron Dome and long-range Arrow shield systems. Many drones, however, penetrated its defenses.

The larger Iron Beam laser, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems Ltd., will be integrated into Israel’s multi-level air defenses in the next six months. The technology has been touted as a cheaper way to repel drones and short-range projectiles, with each interception costing less than $5. The system, however, still has numerous technical limitations and can’t work in cloudy weather.