Lockheed, Israel's Rafael team up to build laser air defense weapon
Israel's Defense Ministry aims to field a ground-based laser capable of shooting down rockets by 2024.
US-based Lockheed Martin and Israeli-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems have signed an agreement in principle to develop a ground-based laser air defense system, the two companies announced.
The air defense system will be designed for the Israeli government but also open to US markets, according to statements by both firms.
The system will “widen” Israel’s “multilayered air defense umbrella,” Rafael’s executive vice president of marketing was quoted by The Jerusalem Post as saying.
Israel and other Middle Eastern countries face newfound vulnerability from small, cheaply produced, unmanned drones designed to penetrate more advanced, traditional air-defense systems.
