The satellite platforms under consideration are designed to operate at altitudes between 400 and 600 kilometers, placing them in low‑Earth orbit where they can target ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, and hostile satellites.

Hezy Laing

Israel’s Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said yesterday that Israel is actively developing space‑based laser systems designed to intercept and destroy threats above the Earth’s atmosphere.

Katz declared that Israel “must be the leading country in the world with this capability,” framing the program as a strategic leap in national defense.

He made the remarks during a briefing at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Tel Aviv alongside senior officials from the Directorate of Defense Research and Development, known as MAFAT.

The project is being developed in cooperation with Israel Aerospace Industries’ Space Division, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and Elbit Systems, all of which have long histories in missile‑defense innovation.

According to defense‑industry sources, engineers are working on high‑energy laser modules capable of generating output in the hundreds of kilowatts, a requirement for orbital interception.

The satellite platforms under consideration are designed to operate at altitudes between 400 and 600 kilometers, placing them in low‑Earth orbit where they can target ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, and hostile satellites.

Katz said the program builds on Israel’s Iron Beam laser‑interception system, which the Ministry of Defense announced in 2024 had successfully intercepted mortar shells and UAVs during field tests.

He argued that extending laser interception into space would create a new defensive layer beyond existing systems such as Arrow‑3, Arrow‑4, and David’s Sling.

Katz warned that adversaries including Iran, which has tested multiple long‑range missile platforms since 2025, are accelerating their own space and missile programs.

He said Israel must stay ahead of these developments by creating an interception capability that operates outside the atmosphere and cannot be easily targeted or jammed.

The space‑laser initiative is funded through a multi‑year defense budget approved in early 2026, with prototype deployment expected before 2030.

Former Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin praised the concept as visionary, while critics questioned the feasibility of maintaining high‑energy laser platforms in orbit.

Katz insisted that Israel has no choice but to lead the world in this field, saying the future of national defense “will be decided in space.”