INTERVIEW | It is called "iron beam": This is how Israel's new air defense laser system works
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- by John Griffiths
- Interviews
The conflict between Israel, the United States and Iran has escalated in recent hours, to the extent that President Donald Trump did not rule out the presence of ground troops in the Middle East.
Amid this tense situation, Israel attacked on Monday the headquarters of Iranian state radio and television (IRIB), as well as targets in Hezbollah in Beirut.
Israel’s new air defense laser system
What recently caught attention was the launch of the so-called “iron beam“, a new laser defense system that Israel presented as its latest innovation.
This iron beam is not a new system. Its development began in 2008, although this weekend’s event was classified as its first public use.
The purpose of the “iron beam” is tactical: it is integrated into the Israeli air defense system, serving as the closest barrier against a foreign attack.
The low cost of the “iron beam”
Another virtue of this impressive tool is its price: while each shot from the Iron Dome costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, a shot from this laser does not exceed 5 dollars.
The executive director of Athenalab, John Griffiths, explained that “it is not a system designed to provide more cutting-edge tactical equipment, drones, or other elements. It is a system that complements what I already have.”
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