Israel has created a new Lite Beam laser system to combat drones and missiles.

On November 11, 2024, Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems unveiled an updated version of its Lite Beam laser weapon, designed to protect against aerosol threats including drones, missiles and mortar shells. According to ArmyInform, the 10 kW system has become a cost-effective solution for operational protection during ground operations.

Lite Beam is a mobile version of the more powerful 100 kW Iron Beam laser system, capable of hitting targets at a distance of several kilometers. The new version of the system has an increased power of 7.5 kW and is capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 2 km, competing with similar Jupiter systems from MBDA and Rheinmetall. Lite Beam's advanced tracking system enables precise targeting and integrates easily with other counter-unmanned aerial vehicles (C-UAVs).

The system has a modular design that allows the laser installation to be installed on various platforms, such as armored vehicles, ships and fixed positions. The Rafael laser system also has an “unlimited magazine” of rounds, eliminating the need for reloading and preventing the creation of debris after hitting targets.

One of the key advantages of the new Lite Beam laser weapon is its cost-effectiveness. For example, a single Iron Beam shot costs about a thousand dollars, while the Tamir missiles used in the Iron Dome system cost between 40-50 thousand dollars per intercept. The laser system's technology is still in its early stages of development, but its potential for future defense applications promises to be significant.

This was reported by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Let's not forget that a group of American scientists is also working on developing a powerful “quantum laser”.