Israel signed a NIS 2bn ($550mn) order to accelerate production of Iron Beam, marking a significant expansion in the country's first laser-based aerial defence system, the Ministry of Defence announced.

The contract, signed by Ministry of Defence Director General General Eyal Zamir (res.), stipulated that the system is expected to be delivered by mid-2025. The system is being developed in collaboration with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems.

Under the agreement, Elbit Systems will receive $200mn for supplying the laser technology, while Rafael maintains overall system responsibility as the project leader. The ground-based laser defence system is designed to intercept various aerial threats, including rockets, mortar bombs, drones, and cruise missiles.

"The Iron Beam deal heralds the beginning of a new era on the battlefield - the laser era," General Zamir stated, adding that the introduction of Iron Beam is expected to significantly reduce interception costs compared to the existing Iron Dome system.

The project represents a collaborative effort between Israel's Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), major defence contractors, and local startups, demonstrating the country's commitment to maintaining its technological edge in defence systems.

The laser-based interception system complements Israel's existing air defence architecture, potentially offering a more cost-effective solution for addressing frequent aerial threats while maintaining the country's strategic defensive capabilities.

The Iron Beam is set to improve the reliability of Israel’s defence systems, including the Iron Dome which was seen to miss several Iranian ballistic missiles in its recent airstrikes against the Jewish state.

This will be vital for protecting the Israeli public during the ongoing war against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, particularly with incoming attacks penetrating the country’s defences, as is what happened when a Hezbollah-launched drone struck Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private residence on October 19.