Iron beam

“Iron Ray” ( Hebrew קֶרֶן בַּרְזֶל - “Keren Barzel” ; English Iron Beam - “Iron Bim” ) is an Israeli tactical missile defense system designed to intercept and destroy ultra-short-range missiles at ranges up to 7 kilometers ^{[1 ]} .

The system uses a powerful laser beam as a damaging factor and is designed to destroy artillery shells, artillery mines and short-range missiles that are too small to be effectively intercepted by the Iron Dome . In addition, the system will be able to destroy small UAVs .

The Iron Ray destroys targets by irradiating them for 4 to 5 seconds . The main advantages of the laser over interceptor missiles are the lower cost of a shot, unlimited ammunition, lower maintenance costs and a smaller number of weapons calculation, quick target hitting.

The complex includes a radar installation, a control point and two laser installations. Mounted on truck chassis. Laser systems are mounted inside standard freight containers.

The Israeli military concern Rafael first demonstrated the system at an exhibition in Singapore on February 11, 2014, where it reported that over a hundred tests were carried out in which the system was aimed at artillery mines and shells, as well as shooting down small UAVs . The laser power was said to be “tens of kilowatts” and will be brought up to hundreds of kW.

The development of the Iron Ray is funded primarily by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, and the development concern is awaiting a decision by the Ministry to deploy this system. The developer also plans to increase the range of the system and cooperate with other companies for its further improvement. With sufficient funding, the Iron Ray can be commissioned over a period of two to three years.

This system will be the fifth in a layered Israeli missile defense system, in addition to the Hets , Sharvit Ksamim and Iron Dome systems.