JERUSALEM — Rafael Advanced Defense Systems brought replicas of its laser-powered Iron Beam missile shield to the DSEI 2025 defense show in London, lifting the veil on a defensive technology used recently in the Gaza War.

The portfolio includes the mobile Iron Beam-M, the Naval Iron Beam, the Lite Beam and the latest addition to its laser defense systems family, the Iron Beam 450.

The Iron Beam is a laser-based defense system designed to intercept short-range rockets, missiles, mortar bombs, unmanned aerial vehicles and drones.

It became operational during the ongoing Gaza-Israel war and has been implemented in a variety of applications including use on naval vessels and among maneuvering forces.

The Iron Beam and Naval Iron Beam are equipped with a 100 kW laser weapon, the Iron Beam-M with a 30–50 kW laser weapon, the Lite Beam with 10 kW. Additionally, the company states that the Iron Beam 450 extends Rafael’s laser portfolio with greater range, speed of interception, and more cost-per-engagement effective model.

A company representative at the DSEI booth claimed the per-shot cost of an Iron Beam engagement would amount to single-digit dollars.

The Iron Beam is an emerging component of Israel’s layered defense layout operated by the Israeli Air Force.

Tzally Greenberg is the Israel correspondent for Defense News. He has experience reporting on economic affairs as well as defense and cyber companies.