The US and Israel are testing microwave and laser weapon systems against unmanned aircraft – the cost of interception using a laser is very negligible, certainly compared to the expensive Iron Dome. The Israeli laser system is expected to become operational in the second half of 2025. It is possible that an American startup that specializes in microwave weapons may arrive in Israel by this summer.
While an interception using an iron dome, for example, is estimated at about 30 thousand dollars, the cost of an interception using a laser is negligible at only about 10 – 15 dollars, for the electrical operation.
Beyond that, microwave and laser systems are able to intercept as long as they are charged with energy. Therefore, they are useful in the absence of the need to take care of warehouses full of interceptor missiles, or because the air defense batteries will be left without a sufficient amount of interceptors against a swarm of UAVs.
Israel’s hope in the laser field lies in a light shielding system in which Rafael plays a critical role as the developer of the launcher – while Elbit is the supplier of the laser itself. Using a laser beam with a power of about 100 kilowatts, the system is designed to intercept various rockets.
According to Lt. Col. (retd.) Niv Cohen, VP and head of the Survival and Maneuvering Systems Directorate at Rafael Shamon also develops Magen Or – the system is expected to become operational in the second half of 2025.
However, after the attack on October 14 by Iran using 185 unmanned aerial vehicles, 36 cruise missiles and 110 ballistic missiles, it is evident that Israel needs an immediate answer for dealing with swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles that is not based on interceptor missiles. “Epirus”, an American start-up that specializes in microwave weapons, said that it may arrive in Israel this year, if the US military gives the approval for it.
Air defense systems based on microwaves have been developed in the USA for several years, some in the US Air Force and Navy and some in the private sector. These tools are non-kinetic electromagnetic attack means, which by means of microwaves neutralize electronic components critical to the enemy’s attack means. , for example, swarms of drones that can fall together in one intercept cluster.
These systems will not replace the Iron Dome as they depend on the weather and are limited to certain ranges and hence will only form a complementary array to Israel’s air defense line.
