The Israeli Ministry of Defense has officially taken delivery of its first operational high-power laser interception system, known as “Iron Beam” (or “Or Eitan”), marking a global first in combat-ready directed energy weapons. Handed over to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during a ceremony on Sunday, December 28, 2025, the system is now being integrated into the Israeli Air Force’s multi-layered defense architecture. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in collaboration with Elbit Systems, Iron Beam is designed to destroy rockets, mortar rounds, and drones with surgical precision using a 100-kilowatt fiber laser.
The system’s most revolutionary feature is its “negligible” operating cost. While a single Iron Dome Tamir interceptor missile costs approximately $50,000, an Iron Beam interception is estimated to cost just $2 to $5—essentially the price of the electricity used to fire the beam. This shift “fundamentally changes the economic equation of war,” according to Defense Minister Israel Katz, by allowing Israel to neutralize low-cost saturation attacks from adversaries like Hamas and Hezbollah without depleting its financial or interceptor reserves.
Iron Beam will function as a complementary layer to Israel’s existing shields, including the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow systems. Its range is optimized for short-range threats up to 10 kilometers, where it can focus intense heat on a target until it is neutralized mid-air. Beyond the cost savings, the system offers an “unlimited magazine,” firing as long as it has power, and eliminates the risk of falling interceptor debris in populated areas. Following the successful handover, the Ministry of Defense has already initiated serial production for additional units to be deployed along Israel’s borders and critical infrastructure.
