Kamal Ghorui
Iron Beam
Hezbollah launched an aggressive wave of strikes across the Middle East late Sunday. In Israel, some of the incoming missiles were intercepted by the country’s powerful defence system known as the Iron Beam. The escalation came a day after a major development in the region, the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top leaders in Tehran.Following Khamenei’s death, the Lebanon-based Hezbollah flexed its military strength in fury, seeking revenge for the killing of the influential Shia leader. The group targeted locations it viewed as hostile, launching attacks on Israel a key partner in the United States’ most ambitious regional military mission against Iran, strongly backed by Donald Trump.
A video released by the Israel War Room showcased the capabilities of the Iron Beam, described as Tel Aviv’s “new era of warfare” defence system. The footage showed Hezbollah missiles lighting up the night sky before being neutralised mid-air, effectively eliminating the threat and reducing risks to the Benjamin Netanyahu-led country.Follow live updates on US-Israel vs IranThe Israel War Room said on X that this marked the “first-ever use” of the Iron Beam by Israel.The military escalation across the Middle East followed what the United States described as its most ambitious joint military effort with Israel aimed at toppling the Tehran regime. Washington dubbed the operation Operation Epic Fury, while Israel carried out its strikes under Operation Lion’s Roar.
Apart from the modern Iron Beam technology, Israel also relies on its widely known Iron Dome defence system, a key pillar of its air defence network and a symbol of the country’s military innovation.
Iron Beam: How does it work
Israel signed contracts worth more than $500 million this week with domestic defence companies Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems to expand the production of the Iron Beam air defence system. Developed alongside the Iron Dome, the Iron Beam is designed to neutralise a wide range of aerial threats, including missiles, drones, rockets and mortars, according to Israel’s defence ministry. Israeli officials say the technology could usher in “a new era of warfare” as the country faces growing threats from Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.The Iron Beam has been under development for more than a decade. It was first unveiled in 2014 and was declared operational in September after completing development and final testing.The system is not intended to replace existing air defence networks but rather to complement them. It is designed to intercept smaller projectiles, allowing larger and more complex threats to be handled by more powerful missile-based systems such as David’s Sling and Arrow missile defense system.Unlike traditional interceptor missiles, the laser-based system relies on a continuous energy source. As long as power is available, the system does not risk running out of ammunition. Israeli officials have therefore described the technology as a potential “game-changer” in defending against projectile attacks.However, the system has limitations. Laser weapons tend to be less effective in low-visibility conditions, such as heavy cloud cover, dust or other adverse weather, which can weaken or scatter the beam.
