Israeli protection for Greek skies

Iron Beam was developed by the Israeli defense industries Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in collaboration with Elbit Systems and was recently delivered to the Israeli Armed Forces, noting that it is now integrated into Israel's overall strategic air defense alongside the well-known Iron Dome, David's Sling and Arrow systems.

The system operates using high-power directed energy (laser) and can detect, target and intercept threats almost at the speed of light, offering services at short to medium distances that complement other traditional anti-missile means. The Iron Beam is designed to neutralize missiles, mortars and unmanned aerial vehicles in real time, drastically reducing the cost per interception compared to conventional defense missiles.

In Athens, the discussion about the use of the Iron Beam has intensified in the context of the Greek project “Achilles Shield”, which aims to modernize the national air defense with a combination of multi-layered technologies. According to information from international news sources, Greece is seriously considering the integration of an Iron Beam-type laser into the existing defense system, as a more economical and flexible solution especially against threats from drones and missiles.

The possible acquisition of the Iron Beam by Greece has a deeper geopolitical and military background. Athens and Tel Aviv are steadily strengthening their cooperation through joint military exercises, exchanges of know-how and developments in defense systems, at the same time as regional tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and other strategic challenges increase the need for advanced defense assets.

While Iron Beam has now become operationally mature and is being integrated into Israeli defense, experts point out that laser systems also have limitations, as their effectiveness can be limited in low-visibility conditions, such as heavy clouds, smoke or dust, which affect the propagation of the laser beam.