What's the Israeli Iron Beam defence system being developed to complement the Iron Dome?

Hamas launched a major surprise attack on Israel on October 7, using various means, including rockets, causing casualties and damage. Thousands of rockets were fired at Israel, some reaching as far as Tel Aviv, overwhelming the Iron Dome defence system.

While the majority of the rockets were successfully intercepted, a few managed to penetrate Israeli defences, resulting in the loss of at least 11 lives and causing damage to infrastructure, as reported by Israeli authorities.

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The Israeli Air Defence system, known to be 'ironclad', was overwhelmed on October 7.

Israeli air defence

• Israel's multi-layer air defence includes the famed Iron Dome for long-range threats, Arrow for long-range ballistic missiles and David's Sling for medium-range missiles.
• In addition to that, according to AP, it is also developing Iron Beam, a cost-effective laser-based system to intercept short-range threats.
• Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, in 2022, had said, "The Iron Beam is a reality and not science fiction."

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Let's have a look at the Iron Beam

• Being developed by the Israeli company Rafael, to complement the Iron Dome, the Israeli Iron Beam is a cutting-edge laser missile-defence system that promises a more cost-effective and efficient solution to protect against a variety of threats, including mortars, rockets, and anti-tank missiles.
• To eliminate these smaller threats, now, the IDF uses expensive options.
• With each Iron Bean interception costing just around $3.50 it will be a viable option to deal with short-range, up to 7 km and smaller inbound threats.

• Iron Dome, while successful with a 90% interception rate, is significantly more expensive to deploy.
• The Iron Beam’s interceptions are silent and invisible.
• The system is designed to work alongside existing aerial defence systems.

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Versatility

• The Iron Beam is being designed for deployment on land, in the air, and at sea, making it a versatile solution.
• Israel's goal is to deploy these laser systems around its borders over the next decade to bolster its defences against a range of potential threats.
• The successful tests, in April 2022, in the Negev Desert demonstrate the system's capabilities.

Rafael is also working on the Naval Iron Beam, designed to protect naval ships against various threats, including drone swarms. It is expected to be inducted in service in 4-5 years, according to Rafael.

Introduced in 2011, the Iron Dome has intercepted thousands of rockets from Gaza, giving a sense of security to Israelis for a decade now.

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Status

• Initially designed to be a mobile one, due to weight and power issues, it was later made non-mobile and integrated into the Iron Dome system to simplify its deployment.
• In April 2022, the Israeli Ministry of Defense and Rafael reported the successful interception of drones, rockets, mortar bombs, and antitank missiles in a series of experiments.
• In October 2022, Rafael announced that it expects it will take "two to three years" to make the 100-kW weapon operational.
• In May 2023, Rafael introduced the Naval Iron Beam designed for installation on ships which is planned to become operational within four to five years, with the initial installation on the Israeli Navy's Reshef-class corvette.
• The induction of Land-based Iron Beams is expected to take place in the coming decade.

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