Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

How Israel’s new laser defense system will turn the tables on Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran
The New York Post ^ | Nov. 21, 2023 | Elliott Abrams

Posted on 11/28/2023 1:27:40 PM PST by TBP

Israel’s defenses took a giant leap forward this week when — for the first time ever — it used a laser beam to shoot down an incoming rocket fired by terrorists in Gaza.

This isn’t science fiction, but the product of years of research and experimentation.

The US military is doing its own laser-beam or “directed energy” research, and Israel and the United States cooperate.

Lockheed Martin and Israel’s Rafael are developing Iron Beam, and ultimately it can mean not only ground-based laser defenses but lasers to mount on ships and planes as well.

Israel fielded the weapon for the first time in combat a few days ago, and it could change the country’s air defense posture in the next few years.

It’s called Iron Sting and is part of the larger Iron Beam laser defense system.

Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system is well known, and it works beautifully: 90% effective.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Gaza; Hamas; Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: gaza; hamas; israel; laser; war; waronterror
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last
This could be a game-cahnger.
1 posted on 11/28/2023 1:27:40 PM PST by TBP
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: TBP

2 posted on 11/28/2023 1:31:27 PM PST by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP

And a Desert Eagle, that’s one great big ol’ pistol
I mean, 50-caliber made by bad-ass Hebrews

-Choctaw Bingo


3 posted on 11/28/2023 1:36:07 PM PST by Seruzawa ("The Political left is the Garden of Eden of incompetence" - Marx the Smarter (Groucho))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP

Well about dang time they deployed it. The tech has been around for several years. Anyone who seriously follows this type of tech knew that.

PS Is it “Iron Beam” or “Iron Sting”?


4 posted on 11/28/2023 1:38:25 PM PST by piytar (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP

I know Jewish Space Lasers is something used to mock Marjorie Taylor Greene, but I would love to see heads explode if Israel were to field a satellite-based directed energy weapon.


5 posted on 11/28/2023 1:39:06 PM PST by Antihero101607
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP

Biden will create a regulation saying we can’t sell Israel any more laser weapon tech unless they power it with wind.


6 posted on 11/28/2023 1:41:47 PM PST by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: piytar

BTW one reason they haven’t deployed it before is you never show your full tech to the enemy until necessary. If you do, the enemy starts working on counters.

Look up the history of how we cracked the Enigma Code in WWII — and then used that tech sparingly — for an example.

But well now it’s necessary.


7 posted on 11/28/2023 1:43:19 PM PST by piytar (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: TBP
So now we have phasors?

-PJ

8 posted on 11/28/2023 1:46:42 PM PST by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: piytar

Th real test could come in a couple of ways, if Hezbollah starts firing ballistic missiles from Lebanon into the middle of Israel or Iran fires missiles from inside Syria or Iran at Israel, if you shoot them down with a Laser it would shock everyone, especially if it took out a missile at high altitude.


9 posted on 11/28/2023 1:47:19 PM PST by srmanuel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: srmanuel

Agree with your assessment 100%.


10 posted on 11/28/2023 1:48:27 PM PST by piytar (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: TBP

Israel and Hezbollah aren’t the only ones watching. Russia and China are keeping a very close eye on this. I believe that’s why the US is keeping a low profile on directed energy systems. Lockheed was also responsible for the SR-71 and it’s existence was denied for years. Maybe this was a field test for the weapon that could potentially neutralize a nuclear missile launched from anywhere.


11 posted on 11/28/2023 1:53:19 PM PST by EandH Dad (sleeping giants wake up REALLY grumpy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP

It’s diesel-powered. Weak. Must be nuclear. More importantly, lasers could free Israel from the control of Biden, who is tying their hands to ensure Hamas’ survival, under threat of cutting off ammunition supplies.


12 posted on 11/28/2023 1:53:23 PM PST by montag813
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: piytar

One interesting thing I would like to know about this laser technology, if it actually works.

If it does work, it’s not a stretch to think it could be scaled to high altitude or space based directed energy weapons which would be a game changer.

It would be a shame if that North Korean Spy Satellite that was recently launched suddenly fell out of orbit.


13 posted on 11/28/2023 1:56:06 PM PST by srmanuel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Tell It Right

“Biden will create a regulation saying we can’t sell Israel any more laser weapon tech unless they power it with wind.”

Would you believe solar wind?


14 posted on 11/28/2023 1:57:17 PM PST by EandH Dad (sleeping giants wake up REALLY grumpy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: piytar

Lockheed-Martin/Rafael version

Elbit Systems version

100kw solid state lasers

There’s been some delay supposedly an attempt to reduce cost.


15 posted on 11/28/2023 2:00:23 PM PST by jjotto ( Blessed are You LORD, who crushes enemies and subdues the wicked.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: montag813
"It’s diesel-powered. Weak. Must be nuclear. "

Not necessarily. Diesel generator running continuously to charge up a bank of supercapacitors, which then release their entire charge in milliseconds.

16 posted on 11/28/2023 2:03:01 PM PST by Wonder Warthog (NRA Life Member)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: TBP

Seriously ... Iron Dome interceptors are expensive. Katyusha rockets are cheap.

Generator fuel to power the LASER is also cheap.


17 posted on 11/28/2023 2:03:22 PM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: phantomworker

Ping


18 posted on 11/28/2023 2:06:29 PM PST by null and void (If you support monsters you will die in the cross fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: TBP
This could be a game-cahnger.

Will it protect the country against the Mad Max Army that killed so many Israelis on 10/7?

19 posted on 11/28/2023 2:08:14 PM PST by Captain Walker ("It is infinitely better to have a few good Men, than many indifferent ones." - George Washington)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: montag813

It doesn’t matter what the generator is running on or the level of overall power generated from the generator, there are probably multiple big capacitors taking the steady output from the diesel generator and thses capacitors provide the laser power when it fires. Recharge might take a bit of time though.


20 posted on 11/28/2023 2:14:34 PM PST by wildcard_redneck (With the Federal DOJ illegally hounding President Trump he has become the 1st true black president's)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson