Israel’s high-powered laser interception system, known as “Iron Beam,” has been declared operational following the completion of development and final testing, the Defense Ministry and manufacturer Rafael announced on Wednesday.
The system, which has been in development for over a decade and was first unveiled in 2014, is expected to be delivered to the military by the end of the year.
During the ongoing conflict, a lower-powered version of the Iron Beam was deployed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to intercept Hezbollah drones launched from Lebanon.
According to the Defense Ministry, the Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D), the Israeli Air Force, and Rafael successfully concluded an advanced series of operational tests over several weeks, demonstrating the system’s capabilities.