Develop Iron Beam Laser Weapons, Israel Cooperating With United States Giants Lockheed Martin

Israel's Iron Beam. (Source: Israel's Ministry of Defense)

JAKARTA - US arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin and Israeli contractor Rafael are working together to create a high-energy laser weapon system, based on technology being developed in Israel, targeted to be marketed next year.

The idea, the company said on Monday, was to produce a version of Iron Beam, which is a laser-based air defense system separately developed by Rafael and Israel's Ministry of Defense, aimed at the US market and elsewhere.

Iron Beam passed a series of tests last year that "prove the system's operational capabilities", they said.

Israel hopes to deploy the fastest Iron Beam next year, as a much cheaper alternative to neutralizing enemy rockets and drones, than the interceptor missiles it currently uses.

The system, a prototype launched last year, uses a laser to heat and disable air threats.

"This agreement will expand and diversify the capabilities we can offer customers," said Yoav Har-Even, CEO of BUMN Rafael.

While citing Breaking Defense, Israeli sources said the initial effort was aimed at generating a system consisting of a pair of solid-state lasers that, when combined, could increase power by up to 300 kilowatts.

Another goal is to enable the operational system to simultaneously burn more than one target. Since the laser beam must stay on target for a few seconds to destroy it, more than one beam must be used if there is more than one threat, such as a group of armed UAVs or rocket salvos.

Separately, Lockheed Chief Operating Officer Frank St. John called the partnership a "like an opportunity" to expand the role of the company as a "security team partner for the State of Israel".

Once a science fiction, Israel aggressively pushed for the development of the Iron Beam system, including showing President Joe Biden the technology during a visit to Israel in July. In October, an executive Rafael said the 100 kilowatt weapon could be ready for use within two years.

The Iron Beam is intended to be an additional Israeli air defense today based on Iron Dome, David's Sling and Arrow, a system that launches a missile interceptor that is worth tens of thousands and millions of dollars, respectively.