Defense News
Feb 16, 2022 08:50 AM
JERUSALEM — Israel plans to create a “laser wall” that would see the country shift from investing large sums in interceptor missiles to using electric-based lasers that are less costly.
The system will be operational by next year, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said earlier this month in announcing the plan. “This will allow us, in the medium to long term, to surround Israel with a laser wall that will defend us from missiles, rockets, UAVs and other threats. That will essentially take away the strongest card our enemies have against us,” he added.
…..
“We are entering a new age of energy warfare in the air, land and sea,” said Brig. Gen. Yaniv Rotem, then chief of the ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development. “The research and development investments made in the last years have placed the state of Israel among the leading countries in the field of high-energy laser systems.”
Israel has also reportedly turned to the U.S. for cooperation on laser defense. In April 2021, the head of Israel’s Missile Defense Organization said a ground-based laser would be incorporated into Iron Dome. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which makes the Iron Dome air defense system, has also demonstrated the use of lasers against small drones as part of its Drone Dome system. Israel’s two laser systems are under development by two of its largest defense companies: Rafael works on the ground-based system, and Elbit Systems leads work on the airborne system.
Story Continues
Bugs Marlowe