Israeli defense companies are developing a new generation of compact laser weapons that could give IDF troops and military vehicles a powerful new way to defend themselves against drones and other aerial threats.
By Hezy Laing
An inexpensive drone approaching an Israeli military vehicle can force its crew into an expensive dilemma: use a costly interceptor missile or risk allowing the aircraft to reach its target.
Israel is working on another option. A new generation of smaller laser weapons could allow the IDF to destroy aerial threats using concentrated beams of energy, bringing an additional layer of protection directly to troops operating in the field.
The technology has already demonstrated its value. In May 2025, the Ministry of Defense revealed that laser prototypes developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems had been used by Israeli Air Force air-defense personnel during the war, successfully intercepting scores of enemy threats.
These were not the Iron Beam system that would later be delivered to the IDF, but earlier laser systems that gave Israeli forces valuable experience using the technology under combat conditions.
From iron beam to smaller battlefield lasers
The major breakthrough came on December 28, 2025, when the Ministry of Defense and Rafael delivered the first operational Iron Beam system to the IDF. Following an extensive series of tests, the system had demonstrated its ability to intercept rockets, mortar shells and unmanned aircraft.
Iron Beam is designed to become another important part of Israel’s national air-defense network, working alongside Iron Dome, David’s Sling and the Arrow systems. Its greatest advantage is economic: destroying an incoming threat with electricity can cost far less than firing a conventional interceptor missile.
But protecting major installations and defending soldiers moving through the battlefield are two different challenges. This is why Rafael is also developing smaller laser systems that can be installed directly on military vehicles.
One of them is Iron Beam-M, a mobile system designed to bring substantial laser-defense capabilities to military forces in the field. Its equipment can be carried on tactical vehicles, with a separate power arrangement that can be recharged using a small generator.
Rafael has also developed Lite Beam, a more compact system in the 10-kilowatt class. Designed for installation on everything from four-wheel-drive vehicles to tracked armored fighting vehicles, it can provide protection against low-flying aerial threats in both mobile and stationary positions.
The idea is straightforward: instead of relying entirely on large air-defense installations, the IDF could eventually give more ground forces access to their own mobile laser protection.
An israeli startup takes a different approach
Rafael is not alone in exploring this technology. Israeli startup Esh-Tech has developed DroneLight, a laser system designed specifically to destroy small unmanned aircraft.
What makes DroneLight particularly interesting is that it uses a different approach from conventional laser weapons. Rather than continuously heating one spot on a drone, it fires a rapid series of powerful, extremely short pulses designed to punch holes in the aircraft.
The goal is to damage critical components such as the battery, electronics or camera, disabling the drone before it can reach its target. According to Esh-Tech CEO Erez Riahi, the system typically needs between five and ten hits to destroy a drone.
In an interview with EDR Magazine, Riahi explained that the system fires five pulses per second and can potentially bring down a drone within one or two seconds. The company says its approach also reduces energy consumption and the need for bulky cooling equipment.
These figures reflect the company’s reported testing and performance claims, rather than an established record of operational interceptions. Nevertheless, DroneLight demonstrates how smaller Israeli companies are contributing new ideas to the fight against increasingly accessible drone technology.
Elbit takes laser defense into the air
Elbit Systems is another important participant in Israel’s laser-defense development. The company manufactured the laser source for Iron Beam, working alongside Rafael, which led the system’s development.
Elbit is also looking beyond ground-based protection. In March 2026, the company disclosed a Defense Ministry contract to develop laser weapons for Israeli fighter jets and military helicopters.
The airborne project remains under development, with technical details and an operational timetable still limited. If successful, it could eventually give Israeli aircraft another way to deal with incoming drones and other aerial threats.
More protection for soldiers in the field
Laser weapons are not a perfect solution. Rain, fog, dust and smoke can weaken their effectiveness, they need a clear line of sight to the target, and they require a reliable supply of electricity and cooling equipment.
They also generally engage one target at a time, making them less suitable for situations in which large numbers of threats arrive simultaneously. Conventional missile defenses will therefore remain essential.
Nevertheless, the economic advantage of laser weapons could be significant, particularly when dealing with repeated attacks involving inexpensive drones. Because they do not fire conventional ammunition, they can engage additional targets without requiring a new missile for every interception.
Israel’s investment in smaller laser systems reflects an important change in military thinking. The goal is no longer simply to protect cities and strategic installations, but also to bring advanced defensive technology closer to the soldiers who face these threats.
For IDF ground forces, the prospect of having a laser weapon mounted on the vehicle accompanying them could provide a valuable new layer of protection against one of the fastest-growing dangers on today’s battlefield.
