Chairman of defense contractor believes Israel will have partial laser defense system in 2024
Laser-based defense system would offer a cost-efficient yet sophisticated aerial defense system against enemy rockets and drones
Yuval Steinitz, chairman of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, one of Israel’s largest defense companies, recently assessed that the Jewish state would have a partial laser defense system in place by 2024.
”One year from now – Israel will be the first country to have partial laser protection," Steinitz said during an interview with Israeli Army Radio.
"In two years there may be complete protection – against missiles, shells, rockets, or anything else. This will protect us both in the south and in the north,” he added.
In February, Israel Defense Forces Brig.-Gen. Danny Gold (res), who is considered the father of the vaunted Israeli Iron Dome defense system, envisioned a future Israeli laser defense system against the growing Iranian drone threat.
Gold currently heads the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Research and Development and said the ministry had conducted tests “with a very sophisticated laser-weapons system…We have done the same for mortars, rockets and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), like the Iranian UAVs they are sending to Ukraine. The same concept of UAV, we can shoot them down.”
While the Iron Dome system has proven very successful, each missile reportedly costs approximately $50,000, making it very expensive compared to the low-cost rockets used by terrorists.
By contrast, a future laser-based defense system would offer a cost-efficient yet sophisticated aerial defense system against enemy rockets and drones.
In December 2022, U.S. aerospace and defense giant Lockheed Martin signed an agreement with Israel's Rafael to join the emerging Iron Beam laser weapon project.
Lockheed Martin CEO Frank St. John stressed the importance of cooperating with Israel's Rafael defense technology company.
“Working with Rafael, our joint team will help bring this new, life-saving capability to our customers," St. John said.
"This unique capability will enhance Israel’s vital air- and missile-defense system with state-of-the-art laser technology, and we are honored by the opportunity to expand Lockheed Martin’s role as a security teammate for the State of Israel.”
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
