The Ministry of Defense of Israel has announced the successful test of “Iron Beam.” It is a high-power laser system developed by Elbit Systems and Rafael.
- The Ministry of Defense of Israel has announced the successful test of “Iron Beam.” It is a high-power laser system designed to destroy incoming missiles.
- Developed by Elbit Systems and Rafael, it will complement existing missile defense systems like Iron Dome. It has been prepared for military integration by the end of the year.
- The Ministry of Defense of Israel stated that the test of a low-cost, high-power laser-based system aimed at destroying incoming missiles has been successfully completed and it will be ready for operational use by the military by the end of this year.
- Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, “Iron Beam” will complement Israel’s Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow anti-missile systems, which have been used to intercept thousands of rockets fired by Hamas terrorists from Gaza, Hezbollah from Lebanon, and Houthis from Yemen.
- The current rocket interceptor costs at least $50,000 per interceptor, while the cost for lasers is negligible, mainly focused on short-range missiles and drones.
- Director General of the Ministry of Defense, Amir Baram, said, “This is the first time in the world that a high-power laser interception system has reached full operational maturity.”
‘Iron Dome’
- It is a short-range surface-to-air “air defense system.” This system tracks and neutralizes any incoming rocket or missile. To do this, the defense system is equipped with radar and Tamir interceptor missiles.
- It is also used to counter rockets, artillery, and mortars (C-RAM), as well as aircraft, helicopters, and drones.
- This system was deployed in 2011. According to Rafael, its success rate is over 90%. It has achieved more than 2,000 interceptions.
India
- Laser technology is mainly being used in the defense sector for directed-energy weapon (DEW) systems, such as India’s Shakti and Durga II, which can neutralize drones and missiles.
- Apart from this, laser technology is also being used in advanced scientific research such as measuring gravitational waves in spacecraft (LISA mission) and laser cooling in particle physics.
Basic principles of laser technology
- The laser was invented by Theodore Maiman in 1960 at Hughes Research Laboratories, based on the theoretical work of Albert Einstein and Charles H. Townes on stimulated emission and the early development of the maser.
- Maiman’s ruby laser, which used a pulsed flash lamp to excite a ruby rod, produced the first coherent, amplified light beam.
- After this invention, rapid progress followed, including the first gas laser by Ali Javan in 1960 and the first semiconductor laser by Robert N. Hall in 1962.
- It is a technology that uses the principles of quantum mechanics and optics to produce a highly concentrated and coherent beam of light.
- The fundamental principle of laser technology is the process of stimulated emission of photons. When atoms or molecules are exposed to external energy, they are stimulated to emit photons (light particles) of the same energy, phase, and direction.
