Isranomics

Israel’s Laser Defence System Set for 2025 Operational Launch

by | Oct 28, 2024 | Company Reporting | 0 comments

The Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Defence, Major General (Ret.) Eyal Zamir, has approved the rapid expansion of Magen Or (Iron Beam), Israel’s pioneering laser interception system, marking a significant step forward in addressing the threat of missile attacks. This project, led by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems in collaboration with Elbit Systems, will benefit from an additional NIS 2 billion investment aimed at accelerating production for operational deployment by late 2025.

The contract highlights Elbit’s $200 million deal to supply high-power laser systems, building on the company’s advanced laser technology to enhance Israel’s defence capabilities against aerial threats, including rockets, mortar shells, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and cruise missiles. Rafael, overseeing project leadership, will provide Magen Or’s launcher systems, marking a major step in integrating laser technology into Israel’s multi-layered air defence.

The Magen Or system, which operates at a potent 100-kilowatt power and has a range of approximately 10 kilometres, will serve as a cost-effective complement to Israel’s Iron Dome. While Iron Dome relies on costly interceptor missiles, Magen Or can neutralize threats with precision lasers at a fraction of the expense. However, Magen Or’s effectiveness is limited under certain weather conditions and can only target single threats at a time, though deploying multiple systems would address this limitation.

Major General Zamir emphasized that Magen Or represents “the beginning of a new era on the battlefield – the laser era, “with the first ground-based laser systems slated for operational use within a year. Rafael CEO Yoav Turgeman echoed the sentiment, noting the achievement as a culmination of years of research and experimentation. “Magen Or is the first of its kind to reach such advanced maturity and will soon be operational, representing a leap in defence capabilities,” Turgeman stated.

Elbit Systems President and CEO, Bezalel Machlis, hailed the collaboration’s breakthroughs, affirming that Elbit’s contributions to the project underscore Israel’s commitment to pioneering strategic defence technologies. “The capabilities integrated into Magen Or mark a fundamental shift in defence, leading the way into a new era,” he said.

The deployment of Magen Or as a new defence layer reinforces Israel’s resilience in the face of escalating threats, particularly given Iran’s stated hostility and determination to destroy Israel. By integrating this high-tech laser system, Israel not only fortifies its defences against missile attacks but also enhances its capacity to neutralize a broader range of aerial threats with increased efficiency and reduced costs. Magen Or emerges as a critical component within Israel’s multi-layered defence strategy, empowering the nation to respond swiftly and decisively – not only to threats from Iran itself but also from any proxies it may attempt to employ.

Image credit: Magen Or (Photo: Ministry of Defence)

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