RAFAEL alongside the Israeli Ministry of Protection’s Directorate of Protection Analysis and Growth (DDR&D) have efficiently accomplished a sequence of ground-breaking assessments with a high-power laser interception system in opposition to steep-track threats. The demonstrator efficiently intercepted UAVs, mortars, rockets, and anti-tank missiles in numerous situations. The system is designed to destroy short-range rockets, artillery, and mortar bombs; it has a spread of as much as 7 km (4.3 mi), too shut for the Iron Dome system to intercept projectiles successfully. As well as, the system may additionally intercept unmanned aerial autos (UAVs). Iron Beam will represent the fifth factor of Israel’s built-in air protection system, along with Arrow 2, Arrow 3, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome.[7] Nonetheless, Iron Beam can be utilized stand-alone.
RAFAEL’s Iron Beam supplies Israel with a functionality not like one seen elsewhere on this planet by efficiently growing a high-power laser expertise at an operational commonplace with operational interception capabilities. The assessments are the primary section of a multi-year programme led by the DDR&D and defence industries. The programme goals to develop a high-power floor and aerial laser system geared up to take care of long-range, high-intensity threats. The laser will complement the ‘Iron Dome’ system and might be an efficient and economically environment friendly addition to Israel’s multi-tiered air defence array. The system’s growth plan is led by the Analysis and Growth Division within the Ministry of Protection’s DDR&D. That is the world’s first energy-based weapons system that makes use of a laser to shoot down incoming UAVs, rockets & mortars at a value of $3.50 per shot.
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CEO and President, Rafael Superior Protection Methods, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yoav Har Even: “RAFAEL is proud to have accomplished this preliminary sequence of assessments with the world’s most progressive high-power laser. The profitable assessments included the interception of a variety of threats and have confirmed the system’s exceptional capabilities. Our cooperation with the DDR&D and the Ministry of Protection has led to this extraordinary growth, constituting a big milestone within the course of to realize operational functionality. I’m assured that this technological breakthrough will result in future capabilities in directed power, together with the high-power laser system. This achievement is the results of RAFAEL workers’ tireless work contributing to Israel’s safety whereas preserving and growing technological capabilities to make sure Israel’s qualitative benefit.”
Head of DDR&D, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Daniel Gold: “The DDR&D leads important analysis and growth applications in numerous technological fields that help the IDF and the State of Israel. The high-power laser system will kind an integral a part of Israel’s multi-tiered air defence array. This technological breakthrough has come at a time when the operational demand for the system is at an all-time excessive. These assessments have been a terrific success because of the creativity, innovation, and information inherent within the analysis and growth processes. Lately, the DDR&D has led the laser program in partnership with the IDF and the defence trade, beneath the command of the DDR&D’s Head of R&D, Brig. Gen. Yaniv Rotem. They’re the individuals who turned imaginative and prescient into actuality. The DDR&D will proceed to guide the analysis, information, and technological developments that kind the bottom of the ground-breaking techniques used to guard the State of Israel.”
Iron Beam makes use of a fiber laser to destroy an airborne goal inside 4–5 seconds of firing. Whether or not appearing as a stand-alone system or with exterior cueing as a part of an air-defense system, a risk is detected by a surveillance system and tracked by car platforms with a purpose to interact. The primary advantages of utilizing a directed power weapon over typical missile interceptors are decrease prices per shot, limitless variety of firings, decrease operational prices, and fewer manpower. There’s additionally no interceptor particles to fall on the realm protected. The price of every interception is negligible, not like costly missile interceptors—round US$2,000 per shot to cowl all prices, in opposition to $100,000 to $150,000 per interceptor firing.
In 2016 laser energy ranges have been reported to be “tens of kilowatts” with will increase deliberate to tons of of kW. Rafael was additionally pursuing rising the vary of the system and partnering with different corporations to additional develop the prototype. The system is predicated on 5 years of analysis and growth in solid-state lasers and is developed by Rafael, funded by the MoD, and extensively underwritten by america. An Iron Beam battery is cellular and composed of an air protection radar, a command and management (C2) unit, and two HEL (Excessive Power Laser) techniques. It’s supposed for 2 laser weapons to initially produce 100-150 kw of energy. Whereas official info isn’t out there, a 2020 report stated that Iron Beam was thought to have a most efficient vary of as much as 7 km, and will destroy missiles, UAVs (drones), and mortar shells round 4 seconds after the dual high-energy fiber-optic lasers make contact with their goal.
