Israel’s missile defense enters a new phase as lasers go mobile and Arrow gets an upgrade
Danny Gold, head of the Directorate of Defense Research & Development, outlines mobile lasers, interceptor upgrades and preparations for reduced U.S. aid.
Israel is quietly reshaping the architecture of its air and missile defenses, expanding laser interception beyond fixed installations, upgrading its ballistic missile shield, and preparing for a future in which U.S. military backing may no longer be guaranteed.
The new details emerged on Wednesday in a briefing by Danny Gold, head of the Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D) at Israel’s Defense Ministry, who outlined how systems once considered experimental are being adapted for broader and more flexible deployment.
At the center of the shift is Iron Beam, Israel’s laser-based interceptor, which until now has been limited to short-range threats such as rockets, mortars and drones. Gold said the system is being expanded this year for use on wheeled vehicles and helicopters, a significant step toward integrating directed-energy weapons into maneuvering forces rather than fixed defensive layers.
Gold also sketched a far longer-term ambition: an airborne laser system capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, a capability he said is still about a decade away. Such a system would mark a fundamental shift in missile defense, moving interception from kinetic impactors to sustained high-energy beams operating above cloud cover. For now, however, lasers remain confined to lower-altitude threats, leaving ballistic missile defense firmly in the domain of interceptor missiles.
Those interceptors are also undergoing change. Gold confirmed that Israel is preparing upgrades to the Arrow system, which has served as the backbone of the country’s response to long-range missile threats. Arrow-4, designed to replace the three-decade-old Arrow-2, is expected to enter live trials within months. Arrow-5, a next-generation system intended to intercept missiles in space like the current Arrow-3, remains in the research and development phase.
Israeli officials credit Arrow with an interception success rate of roughly 85% during three missile exchanges with Iran since 2024, performance that has reinforced its strategic value even as its cost and inventory levels draw scrutiny. Gold pushed back on reports that Israel is running low on interceptor missiles. “We have a lot of inventory,” he said. “We are producing at a high pace.”
Beyond lasers and missiles, Gold described a layered response to the growing threat of drone swarms, combining physical barriers, electronic warfare and conventional firepower. The military plans to deploy airborne nets, emit electronic jamming meshes, and use precision-guided machine guns.
The strategic backdrop to these changes is impossible to ignore. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly discussed reducing Israel’s reliance on U.S. defense grants, which amount to billions of dollars annually and are increasingly questioned in Washington. Self-sufficiency, Israeli officials argue, would serve as insurance against foreign embargoes and shifting political winds.
At the same time, Gold framed Israel’s technological push as a shared interest. He said the country is prepared to assist the United States in developing President Donald Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile shield, an initiative inspired by Iron Dome and intended to protect the U.S. homeland.
