American and Israeli Based Defense Companies Developing Laser Systems for Israel and U.S.

[Valin]

The Foreign Desk

Elliot Nazar
December 6, 2022

A new agreement was signed Monday between the United States-based defense company Lockheed Martin and Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, resulting in the joint development, testing, and manufacturing of a high-energy laser weapon system (HELWS) in the U.S. and Israel.

The newest joint development is based on pre-existing assets developed independently by Rafael and the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) within the framework of the Iron Beam project, a new laser weapon to replace Israel’s Iron Dome Missile Defense. 

According to reports, this latest venture will be geared toward developing a variant of the system to be used in U.S. markets and elsewhere.

“This strategic teaming agreement serves as a force multiplier for Rafael and the Israeli market,” Rafael CEO and President Major General Har-Even said in a press release. 

(Snip)

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