On December 28, 2025, Israel’s Ministry of Defense and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced the delivery of the first operational Iron Beam high-power laser air defense system, designated in Hebrew as “Or Eitan”, to the Israel Defense Forces. The transfer, which followed a formal ceremony at Rafael’s headquarters in northern Israel, was communicated through official statements by Rafael, the Ministry of Defense and the IDF. Iron Beam has now moved from a long development and testing phase into service within the Israeli Air Force’s air and missile defense structure. In a global context where short-range rockets, mortars and unmanned systems are central elements of contemporary threats, the introduction of a high-power laser interceptor as an operational layer is presented by Israeli authorities as a significant step in the evolution of layered air defense. Read Full Defense News At This Link.
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Israel has fielded its first operational Iron Beam high-power laser air defense system, adding a cost-effective directed-energy layer to the country’s existing missile and rocket interception network (Picture Source: Israeli MoD)
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