Israel is finalizing tests on the Laser Dome system, a 100-kilowatt laser defense system designed to complement the Iron Dome and drastically reduce interception costs.
Summary
Israel has announced the completion of testing for Laser Dome, renamed Eitan’s Beam in Hebrew, a 100-kilowatt laser defense system designed by Rafael and the Ministry of Defense. Capable of intercepting rockets, drones, and missiles, this system is part of Israel’s multi-layered defense architecture, alongside Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow 2/3. Laser Dome offers an extremely low interception cost, in the order of a few euros, compared to nearly €28,000 for a conventional Iron Dome missile. Its limitations remain linked to weather conditions, which requires it to be used in combination with other systems. Ultimately, a naval version and an airborne version are planned. This project illustrates Israel’s strategy of technological autonomy and could find export opportunities, particularly in Europe, where armies are looking for low-cost defense solutions to the threats posed by drones and rockets.
The new Laser Dome system and its technical characteristics
The Laser Dome represents a breakthrough in Israeli air defense. Designed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in collaboration with the Israeli Ministry of Defense, it is based on a 100-kilowatt fiber optic laser. In recent tests, a new 450-millimeter lens has increased the range and accuracy of the system compared to the initial prototypes equipped with 250-millimeter lenses.
This system is capable of neutralizing various types of threats, including rockets, tactical missiles, mortar shells, and drones. Its effectiveness depends on maintaining the laser beam on the target for several seconds, which is the time needed to damage its structure or cause it to explode. During testing, dozens of targets were intercepted in various scenarios, confirming the operational maturity of the device.
However, the Laser Dome remains dependent on atmospheric conditions. Fog, rain, or dust limit the propagation of the light beam and reduce its effectiveness. The system will therefore be integrated into the multi-layer architecture already in service in Israel, complementing the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow 2/3 missiles.
A revolutionary interception cost
The main advantage of the Laser Dome lies in its cost of use. Whereas an Iron Dome missile is estimated to cost around $30,000 (€28,000), a laser interception is limited to the cost of energy, i.e., a few euros. This difference profoundly changes the economic logic of air defense.
In asymmetric conflicts, Israel faces adversaries capable of firing massive salvos of homemade rockets. Responding with expensive missiles creates an economic imbalance. The Laser Dome reverses this logic, making defense against saturation attacks viable.
This system does not replace missiles but introduces complementarity: it deals with low-intensity threats and leaves the expensive interceptors for more complex targets, such as ballistic or cruise missiles. This combination makes it possible to extend missile stocks and maintain endurance capacity in the face of a prolonged conflict.
Integration into Israel’s multi-layered defense
For the past 20 years, Israel has been developing a multi-layered defense to counter a range of regional threats. At the base level, Iron Dome covers short-range rockets, while David’s Sling neutralizes tactical ballistic missiles. The Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems target medium- and long-range ballistic missiles.
The Laser Dome complements this architecture by absorbing some of the low-cost saturation threats. The Israeli army plans to double its interception capacity over the next two years in order to fully integrate the system by 2027.
This development is not limited to Israeli territory. A naval version is already being considered to equip the Saar 6 frigates that protect offshore gas platforms. In this case, the laser will reduce dependence on Magen Dome naval missiles, which are also costly to use.
The role of Israeli manufacturers in the project
The Laser Dome is the result of cooperation between Rafael and Elbit Systems, two pillars of the Israeli defense industry. Elbit supplies the laser, based on thick fiber optic technology capable of withstanding operational conditions.
Each amplifier produces a fraction of the power, which is then merged to form a single 100-kilowatt beam. This beam is transmitted to Rafael’s launcher, which handles targeting, tracking, and interception.
This approach builds on advances from the civilian market. The metallurgical industry and precision cutting have been using lasers for years, creating a technological foundation. But defense requires much higher power and increased robustness in outdoor environments.
Elbit capitalizes on more than 40 years of experience in electro-optical systems. In particular, the company has developed C-MUSIC Sky Shield, an infrared countermeasure system installed on Israeli airliners that can divert a portable missile using a laser.
Export and international interest
Israel aims to become the leading exporter of a 100-kilowatt laser system. By 2025, Rafael could be offering the Laser Dome to international partners.
A €71.4 million contract signed in August 2025 by the Australian company EOS to deliver a laser system to a European NATO member country illustrates this growing demand. Europe, faced with the threat of cheap drones and homemade rockets, is seeking sustainable and economical solutions.
European armed forces are already investing heavily in air defense: Germany has announced a €4 billion budget to strengthen its systems, while Poland plans to double its interception capabilities by 2030. The Laser Dome could appeal to countries seeking to supplement their arsenals without increasing costs.
Prospects for development and technical limitations
While the Laser Dome is already operational on the ground, several areas for development have been identified. The naval version is currently being designed. Even more ambitious, a project for an airborne version is in R&D.
An aircraft-mounted laser would offer a major advantage: it would operate above the clouds and turbulence, avoiding atmospheric constraints. This concept is not new: the United States tested the YAL-1 program on a Boeing 747, but abandoned it in 2011 due to cost and technical constraints. Israel could revive this idea in a more compact and economically viable version.
Limitations remain. A laser must maintain its beam on the target for several seconds, making it vulnerable to saturation attacks. In addition, a 100-kilowatt system remains insufficient against certain heavy ballistic missiles, which require kinetic interceptors. Integration into a multi-layered defense system therefore remains essential.
The development of the Laser Dome illustrates a major trend in modern warfare: the search for low-cost solutions to proliferating threats. Drones and homemade rockets have become strategic weapons because they saturate defenses and deplete interceptor stocks.
Israel, often on the front line in the face of these threats, is transforming its doctrine. The Laser Dome is not only a technological innovation, but a pragmatic response to an economic and strategic problem.
In the longer term, this technology could be adapted for offensive uses, striking high-value targets at the speed of light. Debates on the ethics and laws of war surrounding directed energy weapons are sure to accompany this development.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.