Israel's hopes for its defense technologies:
Israel now hopes its laser-based interception technology will be next in line for global adoption and it’s betting billions on it.

The Defense Ministry recently disclosed the existence of two laser systems:
1. Magen Or (Iron Beam) a high-powered 100-kilowatt laser developed jointly by Rafael and Elbit Systems,
2. and Lahav Barzel (Iron Sting), a smaller 30-kilowatt system designed by Rafael.

Magen Or has intercepted short-range rockets at distances of up to 10 kilometers in tests.
The IDF is expected to deploy an operational version by the end of the year.

Lahav Barzel, which was used in combat for the first time during Swords of Iron, is more compact and energy-efficient. Rafael and Israeli vehicle manufacturer Plasan have already developed a mobile version mounted on Plasan’s SandCat armored vehicle, enabling rapid redeployment between combat zones.

Footage released by the Defense Ministry showed Lahav Barzel successfully intercepting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched by Hezbollah.

The laser doesn’t obliterate the drones in dramatic fashion — rather, it focuses heat on the drone’s wing or fuselage until the structural integrity fails and the UAV crashes. The cost per interception is just a few dollars, limited to the electricity required to power the laser.

By contrast, using interceptor missiles or air-to-air munitions can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per engagement.
For Americans, that cost-efficiency could resonate strongly, particularly given current US debates over defense budgets and aid allocations.

As warfare becomes increasingly reliant on drone technology — seen most visibly in Ukraine and Russia’s tit-for-tat strikes involving hundreds of UAVs each week — Israel’s laser defense systems offer something rare: proven battlefield results at a fraction of the price.