Lethal laser and space missiles: The defense systems to be presented to President Biden

Among the many ceremonies, meetings and political discussions in which the US President will participate during his visit, he will also devote time to a special security review of the IDF's air defense system.

Baiden will be presented with a variety of arrow systems, but the highlight will focus on "Light Shield".

What threats does it protect and what are its capabilities?

Amir Bohbot

13/07/2022

Wednesday, July 13, 2022, 12:12 Updated: 13:54

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In the video: Final preparations and a general rehearsal for the reception of President Biden at Ben Gurion Airport (Photo: Niv Aharonson and Ministry of Defense spokeswoman)

Within the tight schedule of the US President's visit to Israel, which will begin today (Wednesday) and include a variety of ceremonies, meetings, tours and political discussions, Joe Biden will also devote time to a special security review of the IDF air defense system

. By Defense Minister Bnei Gantz and the head of the Ministry of Defense's wall directorate will include a presentation of the Arrow 4, Arrow 3, Arrow 2, Magic Wand and Iron Dome systems, but the highlight will be the terrestrial laser system. What threats threaten the systems that will be presented, what are their capabilities and how exactly does the laser system work?

Arrow 2

The Arrow system is a weapon system for intercepting ballistic missiles in the field of the atmosphere (with a warhead - explodes next to the enemy missile and destroys it) which was developed by IAI and in collaboration with the American company Boeing.

Some of the missiles that will be presented to Baiden (Photo: Amir Bohbot)

The system has been in the Air Force's operational service since 2000 and is intended to intercept ballistic threats on the home front of the State of Israel, such as Scud missiles and more, using a radar that detects the threat and the system operators who launch an interceptor.

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To the full article

Arrow 3

It is a missile designed to intercept ballistic missiles in space and away from Israel's borders, as part of the Arrow weapon system.

The missile developed by IAI is capable of intercepting threats outside the atmosphere with an emphasis on nuclear, chemical and biological threats, thus significantly reducing threats to the home front.

Arrow 3 directly hits the enemy missile, and is currently defined as the top layer for missile defense, including missiles that split their warheads into space, and according to foreign publications also hit enemy satellites.

Arrow 4

For the past five years, the Ministry of Defense's Wall Directorate has been working with Israeli defense industries to develop an Arrow 4 system designed to intercept enemy missiles in space, but with very high accuracy and high maneuverability unlike Arrow 3, and against several warheads simultaneously.

The system is still in development.

Magic Wand

This is a system also known as the "Sling of David", made by the American company Raphael and Raytheon, which is designed to intercept medium and long-range rockets and missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles.

The uniqueness of this system is in its quick maneuverability, and it has some of the most advanced positioning and guidance systems in the world.

The system has been defined as operational and has been activated in recent years by the Air Force.

Iron Dome

The air defense system is portable for intercepting short-range rockets, mortar shells and unmanned aerial vehicles developed by Rafael with the assistance of an American budget.

The system is defined as the

"IDF workhorse" when it comes to protecting against threats from steep-track firing.

Which it defends several times more than before.Once the assessment detects the threat sent towards it the interceptor directly hits it.In recent years a similar system in marine configuration has been installed on a Navy missile ship.

Light shield

And lastly - a light shielding system.

It is an active defense system based on laser weapons for protection against rockets, missiles, mortar shells, unmanned aerial vehicles and gliders.

The system is developed by Rafael in collaboration with Elbit, and is considered a breakthrough and the first of its kind in the world.

Its purpose is to complete the activity of the Iron Dome especially against rocket volleys.

The system is based on a solid state laser (fiber laser), which makes it much more efficient and inexpensive than Iron Dome interceptors.

At this point the defense establishment is prepared to say that the system is designed to deal with threats of up to ten miles and at ranges below the capability of the Iron Dome system.

A light shield system that will be presented to Baiden in the review (Photo: Amir Bohbot)

How does it work?

One of the most advanced thermal sensors in the world detects the threat, classifies it, and fires at it a powerful laser beam that destroys the threat in several ways.

According to security sources the system constitutes the lowest stratum against steep-track threats.

At the same time, Elbit is developing an aerial laser system that will be installed on aircraft such as UAVs, and will be able to hover over enemy territory and attack the threats in enemy

airspace.

In the last day, because the laser was chosen for display before the president because he already knows the Iron Dome system, and beyond that, it is an Israeli technological pride.

Sources also said that a photo of the President of the United States near the terrestrial laser system designed to deal with a variety of threats will provide particularly high exposure to the blue-and-white development in which many foreign countries around the world are interested.

Also, a decision by the United States to participate in the development and production process with the Department of Defense may give a boost to the project and shorten schedules.

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