Defense Ministry Director General Eyal Zamir and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems CEO Yoav Turgeman signed the first contract today, funded by $8.7 billion in special US military aid approved by the US Congress in April 2024. $5.2 billion of the aid was allocated to strengthen Israeli aviation. . Defenses – Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Iron Beam Laser Interdiction System.
The Iron Dome system, developed in Israel and produced in cooperation with the US government, is intended to protect against short- and medium-range rocket and missile threats, and against drones. The system was called into action to great effect during the War of the Iron Swords, as the lowest tier of Israel’s multi-layered air defense array. On October 7, it provided basic protection against about 3,000 rockets fired by Hamas.
Rafael is the lead developer of the Iron Dome system, in collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries’ Elta division mPrest. The US Missile Defense Agency is a leading partner in the development and production of Israeli multi-layer systems, including David’s Sling and Arrow, and Iron Dome components.
David’s Sling forms the layer above Iron Dome and is designed to intercept short- and medium-range threats. Its first operational interception took place in May 2023. The collaborative effort that resulted demonstrates the collective power of Israeli defense companies. For example, the MMR (Multi-Mission Radar) system, produced by Elta, is more powerful than the American Patriot system. The Golden Almond command and control system is produced by Elisra, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems.
The third system to which US funding is being applied is the iron beam laser system, scheduled to become operational in the second half of this year. Iron Beam is a high-energy ground-based laser system designed to counter a range of threats (missiles, mortars, drones, cruise missiles). The Defense Research and Development Directorate (“MAFAT”) of the Ministry of Defense is leading the project in collaboration with Rafael, the lead developer, and Elbit Systems.
The system has already demonstrated its interception capabilities in a series of experiments. It will complement the Iron Dome system, not replace it entirely. Iron Dome is an interception system for missiles launched at a range of up to 40 kilometres, while Iron Beam is intended to cover threats at a range of up to 10 kilometres. One of the main advantages is low operating cost. A single Iron Dome interception costs about $30,000. Iron Beam will be able to replace it in at least some cases, at a fraction of that cost. The Ministry of Finance has not disclosed the expected cost of using the steel beam, but some indications can be obtained from other countries developing similar systems. The cost of interception using the Block 1 system in South Korea, which has a range of three kilometers and produces 20 kilowatts, is only $1.50. The cost of interception by the British DragonFire system is estimated at $13.
Published by Globes, Israel Business News – en.globes.co.il – on January 16, 2025.
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