Israel plans to equip helicopters and fighter jets with combat lasers
The Israeli Air Force has announced its intention to integrate combat laser systems onto helicopters and fighter jets. The country believes that this technology could be as much of a breakthrough in air defense as the Iron Dome system was in its time.
According to the Israeli military’s plans, the first laser systems will be installed on combat helicopters within the next two years. By the end of the decade, the new weapon is also expected to be integrated into fighter jets.
The commander of an F-15 squadron, known as Colonel M., stated that the technology has already moved from the experimental stage to practical implementation.
According to him, the lasers will be used not only to intercept aerial targets but also to carry out offensive missions.
The Israeli Air Force is convinced that the new systems will allow for the effective destruction of missiles, mortar rounds, and drones without the use of expensive interceptor missiles, which will significantly reduce the cost of air defense.
The program will be rolled out in two phases: first, helicopters will be equipped with laser systems, after which the technology will be adapted for fighter jets.
At the same time, Israel continues to develop the “Iron Beam” ground-based laser system, which is designed to combat rockets, mines, and drones using powerful laser radiation.
The military expects that the combination of laser and missile systems will create a multi-layered defense system against modern airborne threats.
Source: Ziare.com.
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive and continues to interact with his inner circle, though he does so cautiously and primarily through written messages and intermediaries. Officials in Washington note that his activity has been increasing recently.
