Iron Beam is a 100kW-class high-energy laser weapon system (HELWS) developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, a defence technology company based in Israel, for integration into the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) multi-tier air defence framework.
The high-power laser system complements Israel’s existing missile defence system in countering the increasingly sophisticated airborne threats to protect both military forces and civilian populations.
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It provides a cost-effective and highly efficient way to intercept a wide range of threats such as uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), rockets and mortars at a short range.
Funded by the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD), the Iron Beam system was unveiled by Rafael at the Singapore Airshow in February 2014. Iron Beam is set to be the first operational HELWS in its class.
In September 2025, the Research and Development Unit within the IMOD, the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), the Israeli Air Force (IAF), and Rafael completed a series of tests of the laser system spanning several weeks.
The test series, carried out at a facility in southern Israel, marked the conclusion of the system’s development phase.
The system demonstrated its effectiveness in a fully operational configuration by intercepting rockets, mortars, aircraft, and UAVs across a wide range of operational scenarios.
These successful trials constitute a significant step towards operational deployment, with the initial systems scheduled to be integrated into the air defence arrays of the IDF by the end of 2025.
Iron Beam HELWS development details
In March 2022, the IMOD approved the allocation of an undisclosed amount of funding for the advancement and manufacture of the Iron Beam system in collaboration with Elbit Systems, a defence electronics company based in Israel. The system’s development plan is led by the DDR&D under the IMOD.
During the same month, Rafael, in collaboration with the DDR&D, successfully conducted a series of live field tests using an Iron Beam system demonstrator to counter steep-trajectory threats. The demonstrator effectively intercepted UAVs, mortars, rockets, and anti-tank missiles in a variety of challenging scenarios at a range of up to 2.7 miles (4.34km).
In December 2022, Rafael partnered with Lockheed Martin, an aerospace company based in the US, for the joint development, testing and manufacture of HELWS within the framework of the Iron Beam project in the US and Israel.
The collaborative project will build upon assets that have been independently developed by Rafael and the DDR&D.
Rafael introduced the naval version of the Iron Beam laser weapon system at the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) 2023 held in Singapore.
Iron Beam laser weapon system details
Iron Beam is a state-of-the-art, mobile, land-based directed energy interception system. It can neutralise a broad spectrum of threats with pinpoint accuracy, covering distances ranging from a few hundred meters to several kilometres.
The key components of an Iron Beam battery include an air defence radar, a command and control (C2) unit, and two high-energy laser (HEL) systems.
The system is adaptable for integration into multiple platforms, such as the existing Iron Dome air defence system, and can seamlessly integrate into multifaceted air defence systems. The specific configuration of the Iron Beam system can be customised to meet the unique requirements of each customer.
Adverse weather conditions, however, can impact the system’s performance as the laser beams tend to underperform in conditions of high dust and in high fog and cloud levels.
Iron Beam system operational details
Iron Beam’s air defence radar detects an incoming projectile, and a thermal camera takes over the tracking responsibilities until the projectile is concurrently engaged by two HELs.
The system employs dual lasers to deliver the necessary energy required to overcome atmospheric disruptions. It concentrates the laser beams on an area roughly the size of a coin to physically eliminate the target.
The system’s high-energy solid-state laser technology fires electrically sourced laser beams to intercept the incoming threats silently.
Laser system details
The laser system of the Iron Beam features an optical director, which includes multiple channels, a multichannel HEL transmitter, a visible zoom wide or narrow field of view, and a laser range finder to measure distances precisely.
In addition, it is equipped with a laser illuminator that indicates the target of interest using laser beams for detection by humans and a thermal cabin telecommunications unit.
Operational advantages of Iron Beam
Iron Beam offers the capability to engage targets at the speed of light, possesses an unlimited ammunition supply, features a minimal cost per interception of approximately $3.50 per shot and incurs limited collateral damage.
The system will serve as the innermost layer within Israel’s comprehensive missile defence network, effectively intercepting mortar shells, rockets and other aerial threats with trajectories that fall below the operational range of the Iron Dome.
Iron Beam 450
Rafael and the IMOD unveiled the upgraded Iron Beam 450 Laser Director at the Paris Air Show in June 2025.
The new laser director enhances Iron Beam’s operational range, accuracy, and efficiency, significantly advancing the system’s performance. These upgrades enable longer-range interceptions, faster engagement cycles, and even more precise targeting.
Iron Beam 450 also retains the system’s unique advantage of speed-of-light threat neutralisation at low cost.
Rafael’s HELWS family also includes Iron Beam M – 250 Laser Director (Mobile Tactical Configuration), designed to protect for manoeuvring forces and strategic sites; and a lightweight 10kW tactical laser system called Lite Beam for fast, cost‑efficient protection for mobile units.