This past summer, Israel marked a significant moment in military history—not with traditional weapons like missiles or bombs, but with light.
For the first time in modern warfare, the Israeli Defense Forces successfully used high-energy laser weapons to intercept a drone from Hezbollah during live combat. This innovative weapon, developed through the Iron Beam program, took out multiple aerial threats during the Iron Sword campaign, making it the first confirmed use of laser technology in active combat.
A joint announcement from the Israeli Ministry of Defense in late May revealed that soldiers operated a high-power laser system prototype on-site, successfully neutralizing various enemy threats.
While this might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, the laser cannon, which is designed to look like a large spotlight, is a reality.
Israel’s achievement might signal a turning point in the development of laser weapons, but it’s not the only nation involved. Just last month, China faced accusations of targeting German aircraft with lasers during a European Union operation—Germany labeled it as “completely unacceptable,” though China denied any wrongdoing. Concurrently, reports suggest Chinese researchers are working on microwave-based beam weapons, which could create powerful combined shots.
Russia has also entered the arena, announcing its own laser weapon, dubbed Posokh, referred to as the “Raygun,” intended to take down drones. This prototype laser rifle was introduced in March to safeguard civilian infrastructure against UAV threats.
Officially known as directed energy weapons (DEWs), laser technology has been in the global conversation for decades. Until recently, however, it largely resided in laboratories and defense exhibitions. More than 30 nations have ventured into developing this technology, with the U.S. military investing approximately $1 billion annually in high-energy laser research.
“All branches—the Army, Navy, and Air Force—are working on laser weapon systems,” notes Dr. Ian Boyd, who leads the National Security Initiative Center at the University of Colorado, Boulder. “The Navy has started equipping some of its ships with lasers, the Army is using them for basic defense on vehicles, and the Air Force is looking into their use on fighter jets.”
Could lasers become the go-to weapon for modern combat? Boyd predicts a gradual rise in high-energy laser weapon utilization in the coming years. While the technology is still in its infancy, advancements could significantly alter aspects of warfare.
Currently, the Iron Beam, known in Hebrew as Magen, or “iron beams,” are among the most promising technologies available. They are a spin-off of the Iron Dome, an Israeli air defense system in place since 2011, designed to complement rather than replace it.
What sets Iron Beams apart is their cost-effectiveness. “Each shot costs just a few dollars,” Rappin notes, which is a stark contrast to the over $100,000 price tag per interceptor in the Iron Dome system, making it a much more budget-friendly option for neutralizing threats.
“They are described as having ‘endless magazines,'” Dr. Boyd explains. “As long as the system has power, it can keep firing photon ‘bullets,’ unlike traditional guns or rockets that are limited by finite ammunition.”
Despite this progress, the U.S. has yet to deploy laser systems in real combat scenarios, even with decades of research behind them. Programs involving Army striker-based lasers, naval ship-mounted lasers, and Air Force initiatives remain in testing phases.
“I’m not satisfied with the current pace,” expressed U.S. Navy Deputy Representative Brendan McClain during a recent conference.
The American quest for laser weaponry harkens back to Ronald Reagan’s ambitious 1983 “Star Wars” initiative, aiming to counter nuclear missiles with space-based lasers—a program that ultimately didn’t materialize by 1993. Other initiatives, including the U.S.-Israel “Nautilus” laser project in the late ’90s, faltered due to their cumbersome size and inefficiency.
However, advancements have been made with solid-state lasers, which are smaller and more efficient than their chemical predecessors.
Israel holds a crucial edge in this technological race, as noted by Brian Wang, a science writer and co-founder of a popular tech blog. “The U.S. has poured billions into research over the decades, but Israel has had the urgency of real-world conflict to drive its development,” he states.
The breakthrough for Israel came when engineers shifted away from the traditional notion of a single, powerful beam to a system that can fire hundreds of smaller beams, targeting a single point until the threat is eradicated.
Iron Beams utilize fiber optic lasers, drawing on industrial laser technology that destroys airborne threats through a streamlined process. “Electricity excites atoms or molecules, and these emit high-energy photons, which are then focused using mirrors,” Wang explains. “The lasers can heat critical areas like fuel tanks and warheads to the point of failure.”
“Laser technology transforms electrical energy into a concentrated beam of photons,” Boyd adds. “Depending on its energy output, it can cut, melt, burn, and obliterate targets.”
In practical terms, Iron Beams can accurately neutralize drones with remarkable precision. But there are limitations, especially when it comes to intercepting long-range ballistic missiles like Israel’s Arrow 3, which targets threats beyond the atmosphere. For now, their effectiveness is limited to closer encounters.
Another challenge is energy efficiency; a 100-kilowatt laser demands substantial power and cooling. The most advanced prototypes pull 300 kilowatts—enough to supply 30 homes.
This poses constraints on deployment and usage. Additionally, environmental factors like rain, fog, dust, and smoke can scatter laser beams, diminishing effectiveness. “To be successful, the laser needs to remain fixed on the target for several seconds,” Boyd points out.
Consequently, naval lasers have seen limited utilization, particularly in challenging maritime conditions tested on vessels like the USS Preble.
A misfire could also lead to unintended damage. Boyd warns that reflected beams could cause blindness or unintended harm if they stray off-course. “A laser can travel hundreds of miles without regard for its surroundings,” he cautions.
A UN treaty prohibiting blinding laser weapons was enacted in 1995, but updates to international rules are likely lagging as nations like Russia and Turkey develop similar technology.
A peculiar theory circulating on social media suggests that government-operated lasers have ignited wildfires in California and Hawaii. “I’m pretty skeptical of these claims,” Boyd remarks. “Getting a laser powerful enough to start a fire from a drone is no easy task. Precision control is essential for effectiveness.”
To effectively start a fire with a drone, “there are easier ways than using laser technology,” he asserts.
In a world where a mere $500 drone can incapacitate a $10 million tank, military forces are keen for smarter, more economical defense options. If the inherent challenges can be addressed, lasers may very well provide that solution.
Israel’s recent achievements might signal a significant shift in military dynamics, ushering in an era where beams of light, rather than the booming of missiles, dominate the skies.
