Defence Technology
Laser Missile Defence System - Successful Israeli Test
Deployable on land, in the air and at sea; complements Iron Dome, Arrow and David’s Sling in layered defences
The new laser missile defence system announced by Israel in April 2022 has passed tests to hit mortars, rockets and anti-tank missiles. This builds on previous successful tests to hit UAVs.
The High-Power Laser System known as ‘Iron Beam’ will complement Israel’s multi-tier missile defense array including the expensive Iron Dome.
Iron Dome
The Iron Dome is one of several layers of missile defense that Israel has developed to protect its citizens from attack. Israel’s layer-cake approach to air defence includes the Arrow (long-range), David’s Sling (intermediate-range), and Patriot (short-range) systems.
The Iron Dome is a mobile air defense system is used to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of 4 kilometers to 70 kilometers away. It uses expensive rocket technology.
The Iron Dome is not perfect, however. It cannot intercept all incoming rockets. Iron Dome is a successful technology and has been sold to the United States.
