Israeli defense company Rafael to showcase short-range 'Light Beam' laser defense system at US army exhibition

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, one of Israel’s leading defense companies, revealed on Tuesday that it will unveil its cutting-edge short-range laser defense system, Lite Beam at the AUSA military exhibition, scheduled for next week in Washington, D.C.

The system is expected to be a game changer in neutralizing the short-range rockets and drones fired by Hezbollah forces in Lebanon into Israel.

Rafael announced that the new Lite Beam system “offers advantages such as engagement at the speed of light, an unlimited magazine, and negligible cost per interception.” 

Tzvi Marmor, Rafael's executive VP and general manager of the Land & Naval Systems Division, said the company would continue to play a crucial role in developing advanced defense solutions.

"This latest presentation at AUSA highlights RAFAEL’s ongoing commitment to delivering advanced battlefield defense solutions. As global threats evolve, we continue to equip armed forces with cutting-edge technologies to ensure their operational superiority in diverse and challenging environments," Marmor said.

In cooperation with the United States, Israel has developed one of the world’s most advanced multilayered and integrated aerial defense systems, capable of addressing short-, medium- and long-range threats. While these systems have proven highly effective on the battlefield, they are also very costly to operate.

In contrast, a laser-based aerial defense system will provide efficient aerial defense systems at a fraction of the current cost of neutralizing incoming hostile missiles and drones.

Israeli defense sources reportedly told the Jerusalem Post that the Lite Beam system has already been successfully tested on the battlefield. It is described as flexible and can reportedly be integrated into any vehicle-based platform.

Israel's Defense Ministry envisions the Lite Beam system as one of several components in a future integrated laser-based aerial defense system.

In 2022, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett lauded the development of the brand new Iron Beam system, a laser-based aerial defense system. Its deployment has been delayed due to Israel's ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza and conflict with Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

“This is the world’s first energy-based weapons system that has proven to actually work. The Iron Beam’s interceptions are silent, they’re invisible and they only cost around $3.50. We are turning the tables on terror,” said Bennett. The Iron Beam is designed to intercept longer-range aerial threats from hostile states such as Iran,” he stated at the time.

Four months ago, Israel's Alma Research Center wrote: The Israel Ministry of Defense and the Israeli Air Force’s Air Defense Array are anticipating the deployment of the world’s first laser defense system, the Rafael and Elbit-made Iron Beam, along Israel’s borders within approximately one year.

Read about Rafael's advanced aerial defense systems here.