JERUSALEM — The Israeli navy this week stated it had intercepted about 40 unmanned aerial autos by high-power laser techniques within the wider Gaza battle, a primary in a fight engagement.
Nearly all of interceptions had been of Hezbollah UAVs from Israel’s Northern border, together with different unspecified battle arenas, the federal government stated. The techniques had been operated by the Israeli Air Drive’s new tactical air protection battalion, which was hooked up to the IDF’s Northern Command through the battle.
The Israeli Ministry of Protection declined to specify which techniques introduced down the drones, saying solely that no Iron Beam elements had been concerned. Iron Beam describes Israel’s foremost laser-defense structure, meant to work in tandem with the kinetic interceptor-based Iron Dome.
In launched photos accompanying the announcement, Rafael’s Lite Beam system might be seen. Israeli protection officers additionally level to an Iron Beam-M system that Rafael unveiled throughout final yr’s AUSA exhibit in Washington.
A Rafael spokesperson declined to make clear which firm weapons had been concerned within the fight engagement.
Rafael’s web site says that the Lite Beam is a 10-kW class excessive vitality laser weapon system (HELWS) for countering a variety of low altitude aerial threats together with small UAVs and swarms of drones alongside ground-based threats.
It’s designed for gentle 4×4 autos in addition to for six×6, 8×8, and tracked armored preventing autos. The weapon focuses intense warmth on a coin-sized spot, neutralizing as much as 10 targets concurrently at ranges of up to a couple kilometers, based on Rafael.
The Iron Beam-M system is predicated on the bigger Iron Beam system, however modified for mobility. In keeping with Rafael, the system employs a 50-kW laser.
Tzally Greenberg is the Israel correspondent for Protection Information. He has expertise reporting on financial affairs in addition to protection and cyber corporations.
