Agencies-Gaza post
Israel to use laser air defense system within year: PM
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced a new timeline for the country’s launch of a laser air defense system, reporting the technology would be ready within a year.
Bennett stated Israel will surround itself with a “laser wall” of air defenses amid the raising threats of the proliferation of Iranian-made and Iranian-inspired drones and missiles in the Middle East.
The Israeli military plans to start testing a new laser defense system next year, Bennett told the Tel Aviv Institute for National Security Studies on Tuesday.
“This will allow us, in the medium and long term, to surround Israel with a laser wall that will defend us from missiles, rockets, UAVs and other threats that will essentially take away the strongest card our enemies have against us,” he added.
Israel successfully shot down drones with a laser system mounted on a small commercial aircraft last year, advertising a 100% success rate.
Lockheed-Martin and Israel-based Rafael Systems signed an agreement last July to develop a ground-based laser air defense system. The unit is set to strengthen “Israel’s multilayered defense umbrella,” a Rafael executive said at the time.
Likewise, the United States Navy has experimented with laser weapons in the Middle East and the Pacific. The USS Portland successfully destroyed a floating training target in the Gulf of Aden with a laser in December.
Such systems are expensive to develop but could prove more efficient than missile interceptors or other ammunition once the difficulties are resolved.
Bennett noted today that the deployment of Israel’s Iron Dome system costs tens of thousands of dollars, but that a single Hamas rocket costs only hundreds of dollars.
“The equation makes no sense. Allows [terrorists] to launch more and more Qassams (rockets) and for us to pay many millions … and billions “, Bennett was quoted how to say today.
“If you can intercept a missile or rocket with an electric pulse that costs a few dollars, we are weakening the ring of fire that Iran has built on our borders,” he said.
Israel will also share the technology with neighboring allies who are facing threats from Iran and its proxy militias across the region, Bennett said.
The prime minister’s comments come as the UAE sought further support from the Pentagon following an unprecedented series of ballistic missile and drone strikes against the Gulf state by Iran-backed Yemen Houthi rebels in recent weeks. .
The United States has withdrawn some of its air defenses from Arab countries over the past year as Washington focused on preparations to compete strategically with China.
Israel has signaled opening to cooperation with the Arab Gulf states for missile defense.
Bennett added on Tuesday that he hopes ongoing talks in Vienna fail to revive the 2015 international nuclear deal with Iran, saying a lifting of the sanctions would make the Islamic Republic full of cash as it funds and arms hostile regional prosecutors to Israel.
“Removal of sanctions and flooding of the [Iranian] Billion dollar regime means more rockets, more UAVs [drones]more terrorist cells, more cyber attacks and propaganda operations, “Bennett clarified.
Hopes of Biden administration officials to eventually expand the deal to limit Iran’s support for regional militias and the ballistic and cruise missile program have been dulled by Tehran’s rejection.
