Laser based Iron Beam system intercepts Hezbollah drone | WATCH

Iron Beam, a laser-based anti-projectile system, successfully downed a Hezbollah drone today (Wednesday) in another successful operational use of the revolutionary weapon, according to Israel Hayom.

The Iron Beam system, designed by Israel's defense industry, previously successfully intercepted a Hamas rocket a few months into the war, the first successful interception of a projectile by a laser under operational conditions.

The Defense Ministry said that the Iron Beam system is expected to become operational this year. If deployed in numbers, it could save Israel tens of thousands of dollars in costs, as laser interception is much less expensive than interception with the aid of anti-missile projectiles.

The Defense Ministry released this statement in the matter:

"During the 'Iron Swords' war, MAFAT in the Ministry of Defense, the Air Force, and Rafael company led an accelerated development process to operate new laser-based interception systems, through which defense array fighters intercepted dozens of enemy targets.

"The systems are based on technological breakthroughs achieved over decades at Rafael company and in MAFAT's R&D unit.

"The laser systems constitute an additional defense layer of directed energy weapon systems being developed by the Ministry of Defense, in addition to the "Iron Beam" system currently being developed and expected to be delivered to the IDF this year.

"During the war, the Air Force and its air defense array fighters learned and deployed the laser systems in the field, achieving exceptionally high interception rates that saved civilian lives and protected national assets."