Israel announces new “Iron Beam” air defence system

Israel’s Defence Ministry has announced the completion of a new air defence system called the “Iron Beam”, as reported by The New Arab and agencies on December 1st.

The “Iron Beam”, which has been under development for over a decade, is designed to enhance the interception of drones and other projectiles; this is similar to the Iron Dome, which provides short-range protection against missiles and rockets. Israel anticipates that the system will be deployed in late December.

At a defence summit in Tel Aviv, Daniel Gold, the head of the defence ministry research and development, said, “The Iron Beam laser system is expected to fundamentally change the rules of engagement on the battlefield.”

He added: “With development complete and a comprehensive testing programme that has validated the system’s capabilities.”

Private Israeli defence group Elbit Systems, considered the nation’s largest defence contractor, developed the system in collaboration with the arms company Rafael, which describes it as “a ground-based high-power laser air defence system designed to counter aerial threats.”

Both companies produce guided bombs, missiles and drones, and have faced criticism for the use of these weapons during Israel’s war on Gaza, which the UN concluded was a genocide on September 16th.

Elbit Systems, which specialises in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), electronic warfare systems and advanced artillery, reportedly provides 85% of the drones used by Israeli forces.

The contractor has marked self-propelled artillery systems, as “battle tested“, suggesting that the weapons have been used against the Palestinian people.

Similarly, the leader of the Italy-based Leonardo defence group, Roberto Cingolani, was reportedly referred to the International Criminal Court, purportedly for complicity in the genocide in Gaza. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her government’s defence and foreign ministers were also reportedly referred to the ICC.

In July, it was announced that Israel’s defence spending for 2025 and 2026 would be raised by $12.5 billion, which Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said would allow for “comprehensive security preparations for all threats.”

Since October 2023, Israel’s missile defence systems have intercepted missiles launched by a range of adversaries, including Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The US pledged that it would provide Israel with military aid worth $1 billion during the then President Joe Biden’s administration in May 2024, despite concerns being raised over the use of weapons against Palestinian civilians.

America is the largest supplier of arms to Israel, reportedly providing 53% of Israel’s total imports of conventional arms in 2023. Germany supplied the remaining 47% of the arms and has also granted military equipment export licenses worth $564 million between October 2023 and May 13th, 2025 to Israel.

The New Arab and agencies, Maghrebi.org