Israel Used Compact Laser Air Defense System During War with Hezbollah in Lebanon

During the fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon last year, the Israeli Air Force used a new laser air defense system that had not previously been publicly disclosed.

The new system is a smaller version of the Iron Beam high-powered laser interception system, which is set to be given to the IDF later this year. Both systems are developed by the Rafael defense firm, Times of Israel reported quoting IDF-MoD sources.

Using the compact laser air defense system, the Israeli Air Force intercepted dozens of Hezbollah drones, the IDF and Defense Ministry revealed to media last week.

An IDF footage shows the system is housed in a portable container, which probably also serves as a command post. Upon targeting an enemy drone, a laser beam burns the drone's wing, leading to fall to the ground.

The Israeli MoD said that the development of the system was advanced in light of the Hezbollah drone threat in the north. Hezbollah fired more than 300 explosive-laden drones at Israel amid the fighting.

The system is not only fast in activating and shooting down the drone threats, it is substantially cheaper- with each shot costing a fifth or less of the cost of an Iron Dome missile.

Called the Magen Or laser system it has a power of 100 kW which is considered sufficient to burn a hole in the fibre-plastic bodies found in most drones.Other reports said that this combat laser-beam system based on a fiber-optic laser has a power of about 100 kW and is capable of disabling cruise missiles at a distance of 8-12 km and UAVs at 15-20+ km. This system is presumably capable of disabling the optical-electronic modules of UAVs and tactical missiles at a distance of 25-35 km in favorable meteorological conditions.

Use of laser based anti-drone and anti-missile systems is growing in several countries- Russian Armed Forces use mobile combat laser-beam systems with a power of 20 to 35 kW.