Video of the day -- Iron Beam
Israel has been testing a new anti-projectile defense system, the "Iron Beam", which has proven remarkably effective at destroying targets as diverse as shells, rockets, anti-tank missiles, and drones. It uses a laser beam, not projectiles, so the cost of each interception is a ludicrously-low $3.50 -- far cheaper than Israel's existing "Iron Dome" anti-missile system. The tests were conducted in the Negev desert; the above video shows some of them. More details here.
One can imagine how much difference a system like this could make for Ukraine, if widely deployed there. Unfortunately, Iron Beam units are unlikely to be available in sufficient quantity soon enough to make a difference in Ukraine. It will take years to deploy them to fully protect Israel itself. But in the future, this technology could make countries almost invulnerable to attack -- especially if a more powerful version can be developed to destroy incoming nuclear ICBMs.
posted by Infidel753 at 12:06 AM
7 Comments:
The Business of War, huh?
Really. Mankind will never learn.
XOXO
This could be a real game-changer for defense worldwide. However, it could also be used to down any aircraft, whether military or passenger plane. Such is the way with improvements in defense, dammit!
we need to close air space over Ukraine I don't care if it hairlips putin..
Sixpence: It's a purely defensive weapon which would make attacks less likely, by rendering them ineffective.
Ricko: I doubt it would be used for that purpose. The machines are undoubtedly too expensive and complex for a terrorist group to use. If they want to destroy a passenger plane, there are much easier ways of doing so.
Granny: Far too dangerous for the whole world, for reasons I've repeatedly explained.
Smart idea. I only wish it was available now for Ukraine. But I'm sure this isn't the last time it will be needed.
Hmm, lasers are in the news lately. Just recently I saw a post about the US Navy shooting down a drone with a laser. It will be interesting to see if the Israeli system lives up to it's hype and I have to admit I'm fairly skeptical. Perhaps the technology has finally matured but I remember the claims from Saint Raygun himself about the Buck Rogers attributes (if mostly smoke and mirrors) of his "Strategic Defense Initiative" and the righteous shield of Patriot missiles that only sorta, kinda, defended Israeli air space. I just don't trust arms manufacturers much.
Jenny_o: I can think of a lot of countries that will want something like this.
Krawk: The testing has been going on for several years and is being done jointly by the company and the ministry of defense, so this is long past they "hype" stage. What's happened now is that the government is confident enough in the system to make the decision to actually deploy it.
Post a Comment
<< Home