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The global defence primes have agreed to collaborate to develop new “breakthrough” high-energy laser weapon systems.
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Lockheed Martin and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems have signed a teaming agreement, which involves the joint development, testing and manufacturing of high energy laser weapon system (HELWS) in the United States and Israel.
The program is expected to leverage existing capability developed by Rafael and the Ministry of Defense’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), drawing from the framework of the Iron Beam project.
Specifically, the companies are set to explore the development of a variant of the system designed for the broader international market.
This new initiative follows a series of tests involving the Iron Beam system over the past year.
Iron Beam is a 100kW Class HELWS, tipped to become the first-ever operational system for ground-based air defence.
The system is used to defend against rocket, mortar and UAV attacks, reportedly neutralising threats at the “speed of light”.
Rafael’s chief executive officer and president, Major General (Ret’d) Yoav Har-Even, welcomed the development of a variant under the new teaming agreement with Lockheed Martin, which he said would serve as a “force multiplier” for Rafael and the Israeli market.
We are working to ensure our customers receive the most advanced, effective, and best-in-class systems,” he said.
“This agreement will expand and diversify the capabilities we can offer to a variety of customers.”
He went on to reflect on the company’s work with the DDR&D and the Israeli Ministry of Defense over recent decades.
“This serves as a clear example of Israeli-made capabilities leading to strategic cooperation which will greatly benefit both sides,” he added.
Iron Beam is expected to be integrated into Israel’s multi-layered air defence array, capable of countering emerging threats, while also defending critical infrastructure, strategic sites, manoeuvring forces, and population centres.
Lockheed Martin chief operating officer Frank St John said the collaboration with Rafael would help deliver a “new life-saving capability”.
“This unique capability will enhance Israel’s vital air and missile defence system with state-of-the-art laser technology, and we are honoured by the opportunity to expand Lockheed Martin’s role as a security teammate for the State of Israel,” he said.
St John described the Iron Beam as a “technological breakthrough”.
He went on to reflect on the next phase of Lockheed Martin’s engagement with the Israeli market.
“As a leader of technology, our aerial platforms, such as F-35, F-16, C-130 and more, have been operational in Israel for many years and including CH-53K, these will continue to be into the future,” he said.
“Now, we step into the high-energy laser era and look forward to fielding operational, reliable, and highly effective systems with teammates such as Rafael,” said Joshua (Shiki) Shani, chief executive, Lockheed Martin Israel.
[Related: General Atomics, Lockheed Martin team up for UAS project]
