Elbit Systems is taking Israel’s Iron Beam into the skies, developing an airborne version of the laser weapon for the Israeli Air Force.
The original ground-based variant, developed by Rafael, can fire a 100 to 150-kilowatt solid-state laser from a truck to shoot down drones, rockets, and cruise missiles at a fraction of the cost of conventional interceptors.
Now, Elbit is adapting the tech for airborne platforms, a move that could take the Iron Beam well beyond fixed defenses.
Read the full story on NextGen Defense: Iron Beam Goes Airborne: Elbit Develops Aerial Variant of Ground Laser Weapon