A laser interception system is a significant, global breakthrough, which in the not too distant future will change the defense of the State of Israel, and will inevitably cause the enemy in all sectors quite a few dilemmas and headaches.
The advantage of the laser is clear: high-power, low-cost interception (compared to missile interception costs).
This is why many countries have tried in recent decades to break through the technological constraints, and to obtain the weapons that will enable them to deal effectively with the growing threat of missiles and rockets. In the not-too-distant future, it will become a diamond in the crown of Israeli defense exports, which is already breaking records.
The series of experiments recently completed by Rafael (in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense) demonstrated the system's ability, which was developed to successfully deal with various scenarios and a variety of targets - rockets, mortar shells, anti-tank missiles and some unmanned aerial vehicles.
"For the first time ever, a powerful laser system, from blue-and-white development, intercepts targets remotely," Defense Minister Bnei Gantz announced.
"Every effort will be made to make the system operational as soon as possible, enabling an effective, inexpensive and innovative defense umbrella that will save lives and allow a wide margin of maneuver in attack against our enemies."
The system is expected to continue in the near future, and will then be put to initial operational use in the Gaza Strip.
At first it is supposed to be complementary to the Iron Dome system, and as its interception capabilities are also proven in operational reality, most of the interceptions will be transferred to it.
A full deployment in all sectors is expected only in a few years, and even then will not be without challenges;
The laser has difficulty operating in clouds or haze, which do not allow a direct line of sight between the laser beam and the target, nor is it effective against long-range rockets and missiles.
Therefore, in addition to the terrestrial laser (developed by Rafael), an aerial laser (by Elbit) is also being developed, which will allow much larger interception ranges.
Brigadier General Yaniv Rotem presents to Minister Gantz the remains of a UAV and anti-aircraft missile intercepted with a laser, Photo: Ariel Hermoni, Ministry of Defense
The world is jealous
The defense establishment defines the use of the laser as a "breach of equality" because it will give Israel almost hermetic protection against the threat of missiles and rockets, and implicitly make the enemy's investment in them almost unnecessary.
Today, Israel is threatened by more than 100,000 missiles and rockets from Lebanon, about 15,000 from Gaza, as well as from Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Iran, which is the engine behind the widespread distribution of rockets, missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in the Middle East.
The laser system will be operated by the Air Defense Air Defense System, in sync with the existing interception systems - Iron Dome, Magic Wand and Arrow.
It will dramatically increase the operational flexibility of the array, which is currently managed sparingly due to high costs.
It is expected to be easy to operate - two trucks with a launcher connected to an external radar, a generator and an operating car, which will be deployed in the field.
The laser system was developed with exclusive Israeli investment, but is gaining interest from the United States, as well as from the Gulf states. Once the system becomes operational, the world will seek to purchase it to protect themselves from the missile threat. The laser, which in the next stage will become not only a significant defensive weapon, but also a powerful weapon with significant potential to change worlds in attack.
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