Rafael claims historical first as its laser weapon downs hostile air threats in combat

Israel’s Rafael has claimed a historical first by becoming the first company to have developed a laser weapon that has brought down hostile air threats in combat.

Rafael did not name the system, or offer any specifics on the engagements, but in a 28 May 2025 press release stated that the system had intercepted “scores of enemy threats” using high-power lasers during the Swords of Iron War, which is what the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) call operations in Gaza and elsewhere following the 7 October 2023 terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas militants.

“During the Swords of Iron War, the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D), the Israeli Air Force (IAF) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems executed an accelerated development programme to deploy revolutionary interception systems,” Rafael stated. “As a result of this initiative, soldiers from the IAF Aerial Defense Array operated high-power laser system prototypes in the field, successfully intercepting scores of enemy threats.”

The deployed laser systems to which Rafael referred are part of the company’s portfolio of directed-energy weapons, developed in collaboration with the IMOD, that complement the more powerful Iron Beam laser weapon, which is currently under development and expected to be delivered to the IDF later in 2025.

Rafael stated that, “Throughout the current war, the IAF, including its Aerial Defense Array soldiers, studied and deployed the laser systems in the field, achieving outstanding interception rates that saved civilian lives and protected national assets.”

Rafael accompanied its press release with video footage showing what appeared to be both vehicle- and container-mounted laser weapon systems plus infra-red footage of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (presumably bomb laden) being targeted and shot down by laser fire.

“The State of Israel is the first in the world to demonstrate large-scale operational laser interception capabilities,” Rafael quoted the head of the DDR&D, retired brigadier general Dr Daniel Gold as stating. “For years, the ministry’s DDR&D has been leading, together with defence industries and start-ups, the development of high-power laser technology. Our vision for deploying laser weapons was realised during the war with tremendous technological and operational success. IDF combat units displayed boldness in integrating and carrying out the first successful operational deployments of the systems, and the lessons learned will be applied as we deploy more operational laser systems.

“Laser interception systems will provide an additional layer within Israel’s multi-tiered air defence array,” said Gold, adding, “We will continue to advance this technology and deliver world-leading systems and capabilities to the IDF, turning vision into security in air, sea, land and across every dimension.”

The head of the DDR&D’s R&D Division, Brigadier General Yehuda Elmakayes, stated, “During the war we deployed several high-power laser system prototypes, resulting in significant achievements, culminating in the world’s first successful high-power laser interceptions on the battlefield. Throughout this period we gained substantial experience in optimising and operating laser technologies in the field. We are currently integrating these insights into the systems under development, while expanding the range of laser-based systems to protect Israeli civilians and IDF forces.”