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
