Revealed: Israel deployed laser weapons to intercept dozens of drones in war
Censored until now, the breakthrough marks the first large-scale battlefield use of high-energy lasers.
The military censor cleared for publication on Wednesday afternoon that during the Swords of Iron War, Israel successfully intercepted dozens of drones using laser-based defense systems. Until now, the information was classified and barred from publication by the media.
A joint statement from the IDF, the Ministry of Defense, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems revealed: “During the Swords of Iron War, the Defense Intelligence Directorate led an accelerated development initiative involving the Ministry of Defense, the Air Force, and Rafael to deploy new laser interception systems. These systems, operated by air defense personnel, intercepted dozens of enemy aerial threats. The technology is based on decades of breakthroughs achieved at Rafael and the Defense Ministry’s DDR&D unit.”
According to the statement, these laser systems serve as an additional defensive layer within Israel’s multi-tier air defense network, alongside the “Magen Or” (Iron Beam) system, which is still in development and expected to be delivered to the IDF later this year.
“Throughout the conflict, the Israeli Air Force and its Air Defense Division studied and deployed the laser systems in operational conditions, achieving particularly high interception success rates that saved civilian lives and protected national infrastructure,” the statement said.
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Dr. Daniel Gold, Head of DDR&D at the Ministry of Defense and one of the key figures behind Israel’s Iron Dome, emphasized the historic significance of the development:
“Israel is the first country in the world to field a high-powered, operational laser system at scale. For years, the IDF, together with defense industries and startups, pursued this vision. The system's success in combat proves the maturity and effectiveness of this technology. Our combat forces showed great courage in deploying it for the first time, and the lessons learned will inform future permanent deployment.”
Gold added: “The laser will serve as an additional layer in Israel’s multi-tier defense architecture, developed through immense effort by our defense industries and world-class human capital. We will continue transforming vision into security—on land, at sea, in the air, and across all domains.”
