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Personal Finance Topics / Macroeconomic Trends and Risks
No. of Recommendations: 7
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/israel-iron-beam-laser...
Israeli Lasers and American Defense
The Iron Beam can intercept drones and other threats of our age.
By The Editorial Board, The Wall Street Journal
Israel’s Iron Beam laser air-defense system was declared operational Wednesday after final tests intercepting rockets, mortars and drones. ...
The Iron Beam is said to burn or fry targets from up to about six miles away. Interceptions take seconds, and with a constant energy source lasers don’t run out of ammunition. Israel expects delivery of the system by the end of the year.
Officials estimate the marginal cost of a laser interception at a few dollars. By contrast, Israel’s Iron Dome costs some $50,000 a pop and its Arrow system $2 million or more. Given that Hezbollah fired more than 10,000 rockets at Israel during the recent war, and was prevented from getting off perhaps 100,000 more, bending the cost curve is imperative.
Laser systems aren’t a replacement for conventional air defenses. At present they have trouble in low-visibility conditions, and electronic components of drones can be hardened to withstand their attacks at long range. Anduril President Christian Brose told us his U.S. defense firm sees directed-energy interception as a “close-in weapon system of last resort.”... [end quote]
Here is more detail.
https://gemini.google.com/app/7cf13d98b3c82033Layered Defense: Iron Beam is designed to complement (not replace) Israel's existing missile defense systems. It is expected to handle the lower-cost, high-volume threats, reserving the more expensive missile interceptors for higher-value targets or longer-range threats.
The manufacturing and development of the Iron Beam system involve a collaboration between two major Israeli defense contractors. It will be manufactured in Israel.
The first military drones were invented and manufactured in Israel to lower the risk to fighter pilots. Of course, that was decades ago and the superpowers now build giant drones. I'm sure the Iron Beam will be imitated by all militaries.
Wendy
No. of Recommendations: 0
It's an interesting development. The UK's defense drones would cost more? Different equation
No. of Recommendations: 1
In th3e mean time:
A special session of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) convened on Thursday in Doha to discuss the need to boost defense ties cooperation among its member states following Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar earlier this month.
A statement, reminiscent of the wording of NATO’s Article 5, issued by the GCC’s Joint Defense Council after the meeting, said “an attack on one GCC member is an attack on all.”
The statement included five pledges: to increase intelligence sharing, increase the sharing of satellite imagery, speed up development of early warning systems, update regional defense plans, and conduct joint military exercises.
Israel’s attack has likely undermined GCC’s traditional trust with the US.
Breaking Defense cited Rashid Al Mohannadi, a non-resident fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, as saying, “The assumption that if we were American allies we wouldn’t be attacked by American allies, turned out to be false.”
“I think this is where the US is quite unreliable,” Alhasan added, a view Al Ajami shares. Al Ajami said the Israeli strikes have indicated that US protection in the region is now “viewed as conditional and politically volatile.”
Yes, the first drones were produced by Elbit. In around 1990, my firm worked with them and an Israeli contractor to build a rather unique tank fire-control system. With the exception of the Tempest certified (safe from electronic prying) case, all of the hardware was off-the shelf at a cost of around $15K a pop and the whole project took about three months from concept to completion. And it worked as described. I won't waste time contrasting that to what the US Army would have gone through to accomplish a parallel goal.
The Golden Beam" system is not thee only one available. U.S. Navy's HELIOS system, and the Boeing Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS) as well as a Chinese one shown off at a recent Beijing parade are also available:
🇮🇱 Israel: Golden Beam
- Developer: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
- Platform: Ground-based, integrated with Iron Beam system
- Capabilities:
- Designed to intercept rockets, mortars, and UAVs
- Complements kinetic systems like Iron Dome
- Uses fiber-optic laser technology
- Power Output: Estimated 100–150 kW
- Status: Operational testing underway; part of Israel’s layered air defense strategy
U.S. Laser Systems
HELIOS (High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance)
- Developer: Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Navy
- Platform: Integrated into Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (e.g., USS Preble)
- Capabilities:
- Combines a high-energy laser with optical dazzler and surveillance systems
- Targets UAVs and cruise missiles
- Designed for shipboard integration with Aegis Combat System
- Power Output: Estimated 60–150 kW
- Recent Milestone: Successfully tested against airborne targets including cruise missiles
Boeing Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS)
- Developer: Boeing
- Platform: Modular and mobile—can be mounted on vehicles like Polaris RZR or containerized
- Capabilities:
- Primarily counters Group 1 and 2 UAVs
- Effective against unexploded ordnance and drone swarms
- “Hard kill” capability—destroys targets with focused energy
- Power Output: ~2–10 kW (compact class)
- Deployment: Combat-tested with over 300 drone defeats
🇩🇪 Germany: Laser Weapon Demonstrators
- Developer: Rheinmetall
- Platform: Naval and land-based prototypes (e.g., mounted on frigates or trucks)
- Capabilities:
- Targets drones, mortar rounds, and small projectiles
- Emphasis on modularity and scalability
- Power Output: Up to 50 kW (tested); roadmap to 100+ kW
- Status: Successful trials on German Navy vessels; not yet fielded
🇨🇳 China: Anti-Aircraft Laser Systems
- Developer: Likely state defense firms (e.g., CETC, Norinco)
- Platform: Mobile and fixed ground-based units
- Capabilities:
- Focused on drone and low-altitude aircraft defense
- Includes systems like “Silent Hunter”
- Power Output: ~30–100 kW (varies by system)
- Status: Operational use reported; showcased in military expos
Jeff
No. of Recommendations: 4
In the mean time (revised to include costs):
A special session of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) convened on Thursday in Doha to discuss the need to boost defense ties cooperation among its member states following Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar earlier this month.
A statement, reminiscent of the wording of NATO’s Article 5, issued by the GCC’s Joint Defense Council after the meeting, said “an attack on one GCC member is an attack on all.”
The statement included five pledges: to increase intelligence sharing, increase the sharing of satellite imagery, speed up development of early warning systems, update regional defense plans, and conduct joint military exercises.
Israel’s attack has likely undermined GCC’s traditional trust with the US.
Breaking Defense cited Rashid Al Mohannadi, a non-resident fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, as saying, “The assumption that if we were American allies we wouldn’t be attacked by American allies, turned out to be false.”
“I think this is where the US is quite unreliable,” Alhasan added, a view Al Ajami shares. Al Ajami said the Israeli strikes have indicated that US protection in the region is now “viewed as conditional and politically volatile.”
Yes, the first drones were produced by Elbit. In around 1990, my firm worked with them and an Israeli contractor to build a rather unique tank fire-control system. With the exception of the Tempest certified (safe from electronic prying) case, all of the hardware was off-the shelf at a cost of around $15K a pop and the whole project took about three months from concept to completion. And it worked as described. I won't waste time contrasting that to what the US Army would have gone through to accomplish a parallel goal.
So, the break-even (not counting the missile launcher) is 1,800 shots as this hardware ain't cheap.
The Golden Beam" system is not the only one available. U.S. Navy's HELIOS system, and the Boeing Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS) as well as a Chinese one shown off at a recent Beijing parade are also available:
🇮🇱 Israel: Golden Beam
Cost ~$90M (starter turret)-200M (battery)
- Developer: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
- Platform: Ground-based, integrated with Iron Beam system
- Capabilities:
- Designed to intercept rockets, mortars, and UAVs
- Complements kinetic systems like Iron Dome
- Uses fiber-optic laser technology
- Power Output: Estimated 100–150 kW
- Status: Operational testing underway; part of Israel’s layered air defense strategy
U.S. Laser Systems
HELIOS (High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance)
Cost ~$100M-150M
- Developer: Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Navy
- Platform: Integrated into Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (e.g., USS Preble)
- Capabilities:
- Combines a high-energy laser with optical dazzler and surveillance systems
- Targets UAVs and cruise missiles
- Designed for shipboard integration with Aegis Combat System
- Power Output: Estimated 60–150 kW
- Recent Milestone: Successfully tested against airborne targets including cruise missiles
Boeing Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS)
Cost ~$10M-30M
- Developer: Boeing
- Platform: Modular and mobile—can be mounted on vehicles like Polaris RZR or containerized
- Capabilities:
- Primarily counters Group 1 and 2 UAVs
- Effective against unexploded ordnance and drone swarms
- “Hard kill” capability—destroys targets with focused energy
- Power Output: ~2–10 kW (compact class)
- Deployment: Combat-tested with over 300 drone defeats
🇩🇪 Germany: Laser Weapon Demonstrators
- Developer: Rheinmetall
Cost ~$20M-60M
- Platform: Naval and land-based prototypes (e.g., mounted on frigates or trucks)
- Capabilities:
- Targets drones, mortar rounds, and small projectiles
- Emphasis on modularity and scalability
- Power Output: Up to 50 kW (tested); roadmap to 100+ kW
- Status: Successful trials on German Navy vessels; not yet fielded
🇨🇳 China: Anti-Aircraft Laser Systems
Cost ~$15M-30M (Estimate)
- Developer: Likely state defense firms (e.g., CETC, Norinco)
- Platform: Mobile and fixed ground-based units
- Capabilities:
- Focused on drone and low-altitude aircraft defense
- Includes systems like “Silent Hunter”
- Power Output: ~30–100 kW (varies by system)
- Status: Operational use reported; showcased in military expos
- Cost per shot for all systems is dramatically lower than traditional interceptors at $1-$10 (e.g., Golden Beam at $3 vs. Iron Dome’s Tamir missile costs $40,000–$50,000 per launch).
Jeff
No. of Recommendations: 0
We globally need to move away from fossil fuels.
The GCC won't want to act because the Muslim Brotherhood threatens all of them. The GCC does not want Israel to mount attacks on their soil. It is embarrassing. Behind the scenes the GCC will back Israel.
