JERUSALEM, Israel – Israel's Iron Dome system, which intercepts enemy missiles, has become the iconic image of the country's defense. Now, a new era is dawning, with a weapon that is invisible, silent, and strikes at the speed of light.

Israel has now become the first nation to deploy a high-energy laser in combat. The state-of-the-art technology, called the Iron Beam, uses directed energy in the form of laser light.

It's being developed in-country by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

Israel Defense Forces Brig. Gen. Doron Gavish is a specialist in the Iron Beam technology.

He told CBN News, "From a military point of view, for the defensive point of view, there is worldwide importance to it because it is really the first time that such a technology is being applied in the world​, I would say."

Another unique feature is that it's mobile and can be operated remotely or even from the back of a pickup truck. It's already seen action in the current conflict. 

"Here in the northern part of Israel, mainly against Hezbollah UAVs, and, I think, this is only the beginning," Gavish stated.

The breakthrough in this technology came with the idea of shooting hundreds of small beams at a target rather than a single large beam.

It works by locking a small beam onto a weak point in the target, then multiple beams follow, concentrating heat like a high-intensity spotlight until the threat is destroyed.

 In addition to striking at the speed of light, Iron Beam is silent, invisible to the human eye, and since it fires energy instead of missiles, its magazine is almost unlimited.

Journalist and military analyst Yaakov Lappin told us there is another major advantage to the Iron Beam: cost.

"When it comes to the laser beam, it is much, much​, much cheaper. We're talking about a significant change here." Lappin explained.

Lappin first wrote about this system in 2022. He calls it a major turning point in defense. ​

"It certainly is a game-changer. The cost of interception is like $5 or less​; it's the cost of electricity. This is one of the biggest benefits.,"  he noted. "Instead of $50,000 for an iron dome interceptor, it's $5 now per interception,

During past attacks, Hezbollah terrorists would launch as many as 200 cheaply made rockets per day across the northern border, each costing just a few hundred dollars.

Defending against this array has been vastly expensive, until now.

***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you receive the latest updates.*** 

Rafael C.E.O. Yoav Tougeman sees this as the first in military history that the defender has the economic advantage over the attacker.

Lappin told CBN News there will be two other versions of Iron Beam added to the mobile system – already a credible, field-tested reality.

"That's what they deployed, and that kind of laser, by the way, can also accompany military forces when they maneuver in enemy territory. You can protect them against drone attacks, and it can provide localized defense," he said.

The second system, due by the end of the year, would be capable of intercepting a wide range of missiles up to six miles away, almost instantly after launch, even before they leave enemy territory.

A third, still in development with Elbit Systems, could take the laser airborne.

This is really incredible," Lappin enthusiastically observed. "I mean, it sounds like sci-fi, but it isn't​. It won't be for much longer. it's placing these lasers on large drones and flying them over enemy territory, and then they can hit threats in the air from above, perhaps they can even, you know, hit threats as they're being launched."

There are limitations, such as fog and dust storms, which can scatter the beams. General Gavish clarified that rather than replacing conventional systems, Iron Beam adds a new layer to Israel's multi-faceted defense alongside Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrows 2 and 3.

He told us, "It's a new era in the world for us air defenders."

While countries such as the U.S., China, Germany, and Japan are experimenting with laser technology, only Rafael's Iron Beam has proven itself in combat.

***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you receive the latest updates.***