Israel uses Iron Beam laser to shoot down rockets for first time

As Iran continues to fire rockets and missiles at surrounding countries in the Middle East, Israel has used a brand new weapon to defend its airspace.

Israel’s ‘Iron Beam’ system allows the country to shoot down projectiles with laser technology.

Footage released yesterday showed missiles raining down after Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, launched strikes into Israel.

Suddenly, the projectiles exploded mid-air, after a beam of light shot up into the night sky.

It’s the latest technology to be added to the country’s Iron Dome missile defence system, which has proved to be vital in protecting civilians since it was implemented.

The country has 2 operational Iron Beam systems, which are able to intercept rockets, mortars and drones.

Defence officials previously explained how the system is equipped with a beam director and targeting system, allowing it to fire with precision.

The system was first introduced in 2014, but only declared operational in September 2025, when it was delivered to the army.

The Iron Dome works in a similar way to the Iron Beam, but by using missile launchers.

They work by first identifying an incoming rocket within a 2.5 to 43-mile radius. The battery then sends information about the rocket and its path to a command-and-control centre.

Once they receive this information, the control centre calculates the location of the rocket’s impact and whether it is going to strike areas inhabited by people.

When dealing with multiple threats, the Iron Dome uses data to deduce the rockets that pose the greatest threat to populated areas and infrastructure, deprioritising those that are likely to hit the sea or areas not populated.

Few reliable estimates for Iran’s stockpile of ballistic missiles exist, but it is widely considered to be one of the largest and most advanced in the region.

Some of the high-speed missiles can reach Israeli territory in just 15 minutes.  

Israel and Iran are about 1,400 miles apart, so only medium-range ballistic missiles – those capable of travelling over 620 miles – can strike the other.

Unlike cruise missiles, which are jet engine-powered and fly in a relatively flat trajectory, ballistic missiles are rocket-powered and launched high into the atmosphere before descending back down to reach its intended target.

They can carry either nuclear or conventional warheads.

As the detached warhead(s) reenter the Earth’s atmosphere, it can reach a speed greater than 1,988 miles per hour.