Backed by over $500 million in government funding, Rafael is preparing to deliver the first operational Iron Beam systems to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) before the end of 2025. In October 2024, IMOD announced investments of $500 million in the production of the Iron Beam system. “Rafael’s Iron Beam system will fundamentally change the defense landscape,” stated Rafael CEO Yoav Tourgeman. Tactical systems, such as Lite Beam and Iron Beam M, are already being designed to protect mobile forces and border installations. Gen. Yehuda Elmakayes of the DDR&D R&D Unit noted, “We’ve reached a point where high-power lasers are essential to Israel’s air defense array.