Always have been 😆

https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rkq073ezge

@ICRainbow not according to that article. It appears some sort of lower-powered prototype version was used. The "Iron Beam" system itself has, apparently, not been delivered yet, not put into use.

To quote the article you linked:
'According to the statement, these laser systems serve as an additional defensive layer within Israel’s multi-tier air defense network, alongside the “Magen Or” (Iron Beam) system, which is still in development and expected to be delivered to the IDF later this year.'

@ICRainbow IDF link: https://www.idf.il/%D7%90%D7%AA%D7%A8%D7%99-%D7%99%D7%97%D7%99%D7%93%D7%95%D7%AA/%D7%97%D7%99%D7%9C-%D7%94%D7%90%D7%95%D7%95%D7%99%D7%A8/%D7%9B%D7%9C-%D7%94%D7%9B%D7%AA%D7%91%D7%95%D7%AA/2025/%D7%91%D7%95%D7%A6%D7%A2%D7%95-%D7%9C%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%94-%D7%A2%D7%A9%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%99%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%98%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%91%D7%A2%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%AA-%D7%9E%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%99%D7%96%D7%A8-%D7%91%D7%9E%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%9A-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%9C%D7%97%D7%9E%D7%94/

Israel is the first country in the world to have succeeded in maturing high-power laser technology into the development of an operational system and, beyond that, to actually perform operational interceptions," said Rafael Chairman, Dr. Yuval Steinitz.

@DanielFox9fff I think "shooting down shit with lasers" is what really matters. If they managed to do it with less power - that's even better for them.

@ICRainbow every article about this is very careful to say that this is definitely not the "Iron Beam" system which is still under development (albeit at a very late stage and expected to be delivered this year).

To quote the second article you sent:

"מערכות הלייזר הינן שכבת הגנה נוספת של מערכות נשק אנרגיה המפותחות במשרד הביטחון, בנוסף למערכת "מגן אור" המפותחת בימים אלו וצפויה להימסר לצה"ל השנה. "

Here, again, they clearly level this as a different, if related, thing to the system officially called the "Iron Beam".

Of course it would be nice to have precise clarification on resolution criteria, but it would be difficult to argue that "Deploy Iron Beam" means anything other than "Starts using the system officially named 'Iron Beam'".

There really doesn't seem to be any ambiguity about whether or not to this is quite that—though it's exciting that it's this close.

@5bd4 can you weigh in on this?

@DanielFox9fff I can read. I just point out that when the "iron beam" markets started there were no alternatives. And the spirit was "an Israeli system that can shoot down drones with lasers". Now there's a whole model line and one of them was deployed and did the deed multiple times.

https://manifold.markets/ICRainbow/will-israel-deploy-iron-beam-defenc?r=SUNSYWluYm93

@ICRainbow ah, but not every rocket-based air defense system is the "Iron Dome". Not even every Israeli designed one is the "Iron Dome", it's a specific system made specially for short-range interceptions.

I see your argument that the spirit has been met, but the official statements put out so far all industry that this is not the system officially called "Iron Beam", but rather a similar one developed in tandem.

This market is notably not named "Will Israel deploy a laser-based air defense system?".

@DanielFox9fff > This market is notably not named "Will Israel deploy a laser-based air defense system?".

A pity, yes. Who would've known there would be many. I just hope IDF and Raphael will get their homework done in time.

I'd be disappointed if the "real" iron beam will get cancelled in favor of this "lighter beam" and the market resolves No because of the name (while resolving Yes if that same system will replace it but inherit the name). Names are boring, lasers are fun.

If the rule is something like "that system they had posted early photos of and not some alternative implementation/tech lineage" I'd be more content. But that's only marginally less lame.

@ICRainbow I get that, I'd be disappointed too. Luckily, all the communication around this seems to say the real thing is supposed to be deployed before the end of this year! I'm excited and I hope there are no delays.

I think the rule is something like "that system the defense establishment keeps talking about when they use the term 'Iron Beam'". Of course the name itself shouldn't be the deciding factor here. But on the other hand if Defense communiqués are specifically saying "this one isn't the Iron Beam" I think that's a pretty solid argument that we shouldn't consider it that either.

@DanielFox9fff

The two systems do seem to be pretty distinct. The full Iron Beam is supposed to shoot down rockets (ideally to replace Iron Dome interceptors, which are a big cost). This baby version seems to only work on drones - much slower, much easier to destroy.

Still really cool though!

Delay?

https://ch10.co.il/news/981878/

@5bd4 with the immediate threat subsiding the incentives now are to cook it some more.

Can we please get clear resolution criteria?

Are we waiting for an official statement from Israel that the system has been used successfully in combat? What about unconfirmed but reasonable speculation? What if it is confirmed in 2026 that the system has been used in 2025?

@DanielFox9fff I think Official statement is something that we can anticipate in such event. If not available I guess that it isn't fully operative, unless mainstream media prove otherwise. OK?