What is Iron Beam?

About Iron Beam:

• The Iron Beam, also known as Magen or Light Shield, is a new laser-based missile defence system developed by Israel.
• It is a 100kW class High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) that is expected to become the first operational system in its class.
• It is a directed-energy weapon air defence system that fires powerful beams of light that can destroy fast-moving projectiles.
• Built by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Iron Beam was first unveiled in 2014.
• Its operational range extends up to 7 km (4.3 miles).
• Advantages:
  • With a continuous energy supply for the laser, the advantage lies in never depleting ammunition, ensuring a sustained capability for defense.
  • The absence of conventional ammunition will directly result in significant cost savings.
  • Complementing Israel’s Irom Dome, it can be integrated with a range of platforms and can become part of any multilayer defence system.
• Disadvantages:
  • Diminished effectiveness during restricted visibility, such as heavy cloud cover or adverse weather conditions. 
  • It cannot operate effectively in wet conditions—the more moisture in the atmosphere, the more water particles absorb the laser’s energy. 
  • Iron Beam requires a direct line of sight between the system and its target, making its placement far more critical. 
  • It also has a much slower rate of fire, requiring five seconds or so to transmit sufficient energy to destroy its target.

Q1: What is a laser?

Laser is a device that stimulates atoms or molecules to emit light at particular wavelengths and amplifies that light, typically producing a very narrow beam of radiation. The emission generally covers an extremely limited range of visible, infrared, or ultraviolet wavelengths. Many different types of lasers have been developed, with highly varied characteristics. Laser is an acronym for “light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation.”

News: Iron Beam: Israel's "New Era" Anti-Missile Defence System Will Use Lasers