Israel’s Defense Ministry said Monday it has successfully tested an airborne high-power laser that can shoot down drones, technology it hopes to deploy on a larger scale in the coming years.

“For the first time ever, Israel’s Defense Ministry, Elbit Systems and the Israeli Air Force (IAF) have successfully completed a series of interception tests employing an airborne, high-power Laser system,” a Defense Ministry statement said. “Israel is among the first countries in the world to demonstrate such capabilities.”

“During the test, a high power laser system was installed on an aircraft and tested in a number of scenarios. It successfully intercepted and destroyed 100% of the UAVs launched during the test.”

“This is the first phase in a multi-year program to develop an advanced airborne laser system that will add another layer to Israel�s multi-tier defense array, complementing the capabilities of the Iron Dome, David�s Sling and Arrow systems.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1ixQbSjRl4&t=2s

Israel already boasts a large and sophisticated air defense system, which the IDF says had a 90% interception rate against thousands of rockets fired from Gaza during last month�s 11-day war. The laser technology would complement that system.

A prototype, developed with Elbit Systems, was mounted on a civilian plane and successfully shot down several drones in a recent test over the Mediterranean Sea, according to Brig. Gen. Yaniv Rotem, head of military research and development at the Defense Ministry.

�The ability to intercept and destroy threats from the air is groundbreaking,� he told reporters. �Israel is among the first countries to use such capabilities.�

In the recent test, the system shot down drones from within a range of about 1 kilometer (0.6 mile). In the coming years, Israel hopes to deploy a ground-based system with a range of 8-10 kilometers (5-6 miles) that can intercept rockets, mortar rounds and drones.

(YWN Israel Desk � Jerusalem & AP)