Dark Tech/ The Iron Beam That Makes Israel an Impenetrable Country

Always enjoy the Dark 5 videos, informative and not too overly sensationalized. I always the big drawback to laser tech was cloud cover. Of course, Israel is more arid but still. Has the laser become an all-weather alternative? Makes me wonder though wouldn't mirror reflect at least partially some of the laser's intensity?

Regardless still a cool video and it makes me want to research it more extensively.

As one of the world’s most advanced and comprehensive defense systems, the Iron Dome is capable of effectively countering rockets, artillery, mortars, aircraft, drones, and precision-guided munitions over a vast region.

However, the Israeli defensive network is a highly complex and expensive solution, with each interceptor costing up to 100,000 dollars to deploy. For that reason, the system is only activated when human lives are in danger.

A new breakthrough, however, is about to shatter the price limitations of the world’s most advanced defense system as a new ‘Iron Dome’ technology reaches the final phase of development.

When updated with the Iron Beam equipment, the Iron Dome will be able to use laser beams to blow missiles out of the sky at a fraction of the cost of previous interceptor missiles.

The state-of-the-art development will not only bring Israel’s defenses to a new age of security and dependability, but it also signals the possibility of a future defensive dome capable of blocking even the fastest intercontinental ballistic missiles…

I fail to see how this project is reaching the final phases of development. It is taking a great step toward a better system. This also seems to be be a logical direction. Seems odd they're releasing these steps now though.

originally posted by: Kocag
I fail to see how this project is reaching the final phases of development. It is taking a great step toward a better system. This also seems to be be a logical direction. Seems odd they're releasing these steps now though.

They aren't the only ones it seems, so are the Japanese...

www.defensenews.com...

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel’s new laser missile-defense system has successfully intercepted mortars, rockets and anti-tank missiles in recent tests, Israeli leaders said Thursday.

The Israeli-made laser system, known as the “Iron Beam,” is designed to complement a series of aerial defense systems, including the more costly rocket-intercepting Iron Dome.

“This may sound like science-fiction, but it’s real,” said Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. “The Iron Beam’s interceptions are silent, they’re invisible and they only cost around $3.50″ apiece, he added.

Little is known about the laser system’s effectiveness, but it is expected to be deployed on land, in the air and at sea. The goal is to deploy the laser systems around Israel’s borders over the next decade to protect the country against attacks.

Thursday’s announcement also sent a message to Israel’s foes, including archenemy Iran. The tests took place last month in the Negev Desert.

The announcement came near the anniversary of the 11-day Israel-Gaza war, in which Gaza’s ruling Hamas militant group fired more than 4,000 rockets toward Israel.

Israel said its Iron Dome defense system has been a great success, with a 90% interception rate against incoming rocket fire. But officials say the system is expensive to deploy. Bennett has said someone in Gaza can fire a rocket toward Israel for a few hundred dollars, but it costs tens of thousands of dollars for the Iron Dome to intercept it.

The Defense Ministry released a short video showing what it said were the new system’s successful interceptions of rockets, mortars and an unmanned aerial vehicle. The video, which was highly edited and set to music, appeared to show a laser beam coming out of a ground station, hitting the targets and smashing them into small pieces.

Bennett said in February that Israel would begin using the system within a year.

Israel has already developed or deployed a series of systems meant to intercept everything from long-range missiles to rockets launched from just a few kilometers (miles) away. It has also outfitted its tanks with a missile-defense system.

Talks on restoring Iran’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers have stalled. Israel opposes the deal, saying it does not do enough to curb Iran’s nuclear program or its military activities across the region, and Israeli officials have said they will unilaterally do what’s necessary to protect the country.

thediplomat.com...

For the first time, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) have unveiled in public the prototypes of their respective laser systems to shoot down incoming hostile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Displayed at the DSEI Japan 2023 show, which was held in Chiba Prefecture from March 15 to 17, both systems marked a crucial advancement for Tokyo amid concerns that the Chinese military may launch a swarm attack by drones around the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands and major bases of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) in case of emergencies in areas surrounding Japan.

MHI officials said that the company has repeatedly conducted outdoor field tests using the prototype of its laser energy-based counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) on Tanegashima in Kagoshima prefecture, an islet south of Japan’s southernmost main island, for the past two years.