Israel Iron Beam will become
the world's first active duty combat laser in 2015
January
10, 2015Iron Beam is an air
defense system currently in development by Israeli defense contractor Rafael
Advanced Defense Systems. It is expected to enter service with the Israel
Defense Forces in 2015, the system is designed to destroy short-range rockets,
artillery, and mortars too small for the Iron Dome system to intercept
effectively.
This will be the first combat laser fielded for active
service. Israel has the pressing need for short range defense that are too close
for the Iron Dome. The US has the luxury of taking time to test lasers on navy
ships, trucks and fighter planes and then fielding in a few years. Israel has
testing in live combat since if the Iron beam fails the mortar would have got
through anyway. Patriot anti-missile systems were also rushed into active
service in early days of the Iraq conflict.
Iron Beam will use a "directed high energy laser beam" to destroy
hostile targets with ranges of up to 7 kilometres (4.3 miles)
Iron
Beam uses a fiber optic laser to destroy an airborne target within 4-5 seconds
of firing. Whether acting as a stand-alone system or with external cueing as
part of an air-defense system, a threat is detected by a surveillance system and
tracked by vehicle platforms in order to engage. The main benefits of using a
directed energy weapon over conventional missile interceptors are lower costs
per shot, an unlimited magazine, lower operational costs, and less
manpower.
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has a page on their high energy
laser.
Iron Beam will constitute the fifth
element of Israel's integrated air defense system:
* Arrow 2
* Arrow
3
* David's Sling
* Iron Dome.
* Iron Beam
However, Iron Beam
is also a stand-alone system
SOURCES - wikipedia, Rafael,
Youtube, Mirror UK
