IDF's cutting-edge Iron Beam laser not deployed in Iran war due to battery shortage

When the first batteries of the futuristic Iron Beam laser defense system were delivered to the Israeli military last December, Defense Minister Israel Katz boasted that this was a message heard “from Tehran to Sana’a to Beirut.”

However, fighting with Iran and Hezbollah erupted within months of Katz’s claim, yet the supposedly game-changing technology was nowhere to be seen – despite false claims and viral footage circulating online that fueled speculation about its fate.

In March, the IDF acknowledged that the system was not being used in the current conflict and wasn't even ready for regular operations, despite earlier claims that Iron Beam systems had successfully shot down dozens of Hezbollah drones in the fall of 2024.

On Friday, the IDF revealed more information about the laser beam system, which was expected to revolutionize the defense against air-borne projectiles, significantly reducing their effectiveness over time.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) said in a statement that Iron Beam requires 14 operational batteries working together to have a sufficiently significant impact to serve as an effective countermeasure.

Notably, the statement that Iron Dome did not see significant use in Israel in recent months followed shortly after The Financial Times reported that Israel had sent a version of the Iron Beam to the United Arab Emirates during the recent fighting with Iran, as well as an advanced surveillance system called Spectro, which can detect drones up to 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) away.

One week earlier, Axios and The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel also sent an Iron Dome battery – along with dozens of troops to operate it – to the UAE.

The Financial Times cited sources as saying that Israel also provided additional, unspecified defensive and offensive weapons systems, many of them being either prototypes or not yet fully integrated into Israel’s own systems.

“It’s not a small number of [Israeli] boots on the ground,” the source said. In addition, the IDF reportedly provided real-time intelligence on missile launches from Iran toward the Gulf state, which was the primary target of Iranian attacks, even ahead of Israel.

According to the UAE Ministry of Defense, throughout the war, air defense systems in the country intercepted 537 ballistic missiles, 26 cruise missiles and 2,256 UAVs from Iran. 

There have been no reports suggesting that fellow Gulf emirate and Abraham Accords partner Bahrain received similar support from Israel during the fighting with Iran.

The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020 between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan, marked a diplomatic breakthrough but did not include any provisions for a defense agreement.

The Iron Beam system represents a global breakthrough in laser technology, combining an advanced laser source and a unique electro-optical targeting system, enabling the interception of a wide range of targets “at a negligible marginal cost, which constitutes the laser system’s primary advantage.”

According to an official statement at the time, Iron Beam, known as "Or Eitan" in Hebrew, “proved its effectiveness in an extensive series of tests against various threats and successfully intercepted rockets, mortars, and UAVs, (and) will be integrated into the IAF and incorporated into Israel’s multi-layered aerial defense array as a complementary capability to the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow systems.”

“This monumental achievement changes the rules of engagement and delivers a critical message to our enemies - near and far alike – do not challenge us, or face severe consequences,” said Defense Minister Katz.

“This message reverberates from Tehran to Sana’a to Beirut. We remain committed to preserving Israel’s security and technological edge, ensuring we stand resolute against future challenges.”