by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Israel’s Iron Beam laser defense system, set to be operational in roughly nine months, intercepts rockets, drones, and mortars within seconds at a range of up to 7 km using a high-energy fiber laser, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Sunday.
During a tour of Rafael’s Leshem Institute in Rakefet in the lower Galilee region, Katz warned Israel’s enemies sternly, emphasizing the nation’s expanding military capabilities.
“Our enemies should understand clearly: We possess multiple means to deliver a decisive strike. If they challenge Israel again, their hand will be severed,” Katz stated.
Developed by Rafael, Iron Beam intercepts rockets and drones with laser technology at just $2–$5 per shot, offering a far cheaper alternative to traditional missile interceptors costing $100,000–$150,000.
Despite its low per-shot cost of $2–$5, deploying and maintaining Iron Beam, the overall costs reach around $2,000 per interception.
“The laser system represents the weapon of the future, capable of neutralizing entire categories of threats with exceptional and continually improving results,” Katz explained. “Israeli citizens deserve this protection.”
The announcement strengthens Israel’s multi-layered air defense amid regional security challenges.
The U.S. funded $1.2 billion for the Iron Beam under the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, signed by President Biden in 2024.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
More Worthy News
At a recent meeting in Wuhan, Christian media in China were instructed to increase their coverage of Xi Jinping’s thoughts and key Communist Party documents, according to a religious liberty and human rights magazine.
India has accused Pakistan’s army of attacking three of its military bases with drones and missiles, a day after dozens of people were reportedly killed by Indian strikes in Pakistan.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, who has come under fire from influential supporters of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, echoes sentiments of his predecessor saying “the [Catholic] Church should be judged by the holiness of its members, and not the grandeur of her buildings.”
Fulani herdsmen launched deadly raids on two predominantly Christian villages in Plateau state, Nigeria, on May 3-4, killing six people and injuring dozens, Morning Star News reported.
A sweeping five-day law enforcement operation targeting online child predators led to the arrest of 205 suspects and the rescue of 115 children across the United States, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on May 7.
Friedrich Merz began his first full day as Germany’s new chancellor on Wednesday despite being a politically wounded and weakened leader after failing to win enough parliamentary support in a first vote on Tuesday, which shocked the country’s political establishment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that victory in Gaza requires both the defeat of Hamas and the release of hostages during a visit to reservist soldiers at a training base in southern Israel.