The IDF's New Weapon That Could Make Iron Dome Obsolete

Israel’s Ministry of Defense and the defense company Rafael have officially announced the completion of the powerful "Ohr Eitan" laser interception system. After a successful series of operational tests, the IDF is expected to begin receiving the first systems by the end of 2025. This development will make Israel the first country in the world to field an operational, high-power laser weapon for air defense.

The system is a high-precision, high-power laser designed to neutralize a variety of aerial threats. It will act as a complementary layer to Israel's existing multi-layered air defense array, which includes the Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow systems. The system has already demonstrated its effectiveness by successfully intercepting dozens of short-range targets during the current war, including mortars, drones, and rockets.

According to Defense Minister Israel Katz, the system is a historic milestone that "changes the threat equation." Its most significant advantage is its low operational cost. While a single Tamir missile from the Iron Dome costs around $100,000, a laser interception will cost only a few shekels. The Ministry of Defense estimates that if Ohr Eitan had been operational during the Iron Swords War, it would have already paid for itself.

The system's name, "Ohr Eitan" (Eitan's Light), is a tribute to Captain Eitan Auster, an officer killed in Southern Lebanon, whose father was one of the project's key developers. According to Director General of the Ministry of Defense Amir Baram, the system represents a technological and engineering breakthrough of international significance. "For the first time in history," he said, "we have found a way and the ability to fight with beams of light."

The development effort, which also involves Elbit Systems, is not stopping here. Future plans include creating more powerful versions, a mobile version to support ground forces, and an airborne laser that could operate above the clouds, free from weather limitations. Additionally, the Ministry of Defense has authorized the export of Ohr Eitan to allied nations, with Rafael already planning to rebrand it as Laser Dome for the international market.