Israeli paper reveals high cost of new laser air defense system
Israel’s new laser-based air defense system, marketed as a low-cost alternative to missile interceptors, is actually far more expensive than previously acknowledged, an Israeli paper reveals.
According to a report published by the Hebrew-language financial daily Calcalist on Wednesday, the true cost of deploying Israel’s Iron Beam laser air defense system—known as “Or Eitan” in Hebrew—amounts to tens of millions of dollars per unit, rather than the “few shekels per interception” often claimed by its developers.
The report further noted that each laser targeting and firing unit supplied to the Israeli military by the military firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems costs tens of millions of dollars, and is capable of covering only a 10-kilometer radius.
This means that protecting Israel would require the deployment of dozens or even hundreds of such systems, significantly increasing the overall cost.
From the beginning, military planners and engineers were aware that operating a high-power laser defense network would be technically complex, logistically demanding, and financially burdensome, Calcalist reported.
Despite being presented as a revolutionary way to reduce interception costs, the infrastructure required to make the system effective was never inexpensive.
During the system’s long development phase, Rafael and Israel’s ministry of military affairs consistently argued that the laser system would sharply lower the cost of intercepting rockets, drones, and other aerial threats, comparing it favorably to the Iron Dome’s Tamir interceptor missiles, each of which costs more than $50,000 per launch.
However, the report highlighted that while the cost per laser firing may indeed be low, this figure obscures the far more significant expense: the high price of the laser hardware itself, particularly the targeting devices using high-energy beams to destroy incoming projectiles.
The exact price of each laser unit has not been publicly disclosed by Rafael, but based on the limited operational range and the scale of coverage required, the total cost of nationwide deployment would be extremely high, the newspaper added.
The report further emphasized that the laser system should not be viewed as a near-term replacement or even a full complement to the Iron Dome, adding that given its current range limitations and the number of units required for effective coverage, the technology is not yet positioned to provide comprehensive protection for Israel.
Israel formally fielded its first operational Iron Beam high-power laser air defense system in late December 2025.
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