On May 28, through a statement published on its official social media accounts, the Israeli company Rafael confirmed the first combat use of the Israel Defense Forces’ new high-power laser system, Iron Beam. Specifically, the weapon system reportedly saw action as part of the country’s air defense in the context of the war Israel is waging against the terrorist group Hamas and its allies, known as the War of the Iron Swords in Jerusalem.
Citing some of the official statements released by company authorities, it is worth highlighting those made by Dr. Yuval Steinitz, current chairman of Rafael: “Israel is the first country in the world to transform high-power laser technology into a fully operational system – and to execute actual combat interceptions.” For his part, the company’s CEO, Yoav Tourgeman, stated: “These systems mark the beginning of a new era in warfare — one that will soon expand with the delivery of Iron Beam, Rafael’s next-generation laser weapon designed to reshape the future of air defense. This is not theory. It’s real. Combat proven.”
It is useful to recall at this point that the Iron Beam system had already been deployed near Gaza as part of its certification trials, which took place in January 2024. At the time, the deployment was undoubtedly a major milestone, considering that it brought an end to intense debates over the system’s viability and effectiveness between proponents and critics of the platform. Much of that debate stemmed from the failed initial attempt to develop a similar weapon in cooperation with the U.S.; the project, known as Nautilus, was canceled in 2005.
As of today, technological advances have enabled the design of a significantly smaller system, easier to transport, and now, combat-proven in terms of effectiveness. In this regard, Iron Beam secured a formal procurement contract from the Israel Defense Forces worth up to 200 million dollars, signed in October 2024. The system provides the military with a platform capable of generating between 100 and 150 kW of power with its two laser cannons, designed to complement existing kinetic-based systems such as Iron Dome and David’s Sling.
Image credits: Rafael
You may also like: Israeli Air Force F-15 Baz fighter-bombers carried out strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen
