{{Short description|Israeli laser weapon system}} {{Infobox weapon |name=Light Blade | image = | caption = | origin = Israel | type = Laser air defense system | is_missile = no <!-- Service history --> | service = | used_by = Israel Border Police | wars = {{tree list}} * Gaza–Israel conflict {{tree list/end}} <!-- Production history --> | designer = OptiDefense | design_date = 2010–2015 | manufacturer = OptiDefense | unit_cost = | production_date = | number = | variants = }}
[[File:Incendiary balloons from Gaza strip.jpg|thumb|Helium balloons bearing flammable materials launched from Bureij in the Gaza Strip]]
'''Light Blade''' ({{langx|he|להב אור}}, '''Lahav Or''') is a laser-based air defense system intended to intercept airborne devices such as incendiary balloons, incendiary kites, and miniature UAVs such as quadcopters, and RAM (rocket, artillery, and mortar) threats. When first deployed in 2020, it was the first laser air defense system in the world.<ref name="Israel Hayom 8/20">{{cite news |last1=Saban |first1=Itsik |title=Israel deploys first-of-its-kind laser system to Gaza border to fight incendiary balloons |url=https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/08/12/israel-deploys-first-of-its-kind-laser-system-to-gaza-border-to-fight-incendiary-balloons/ |access-date=22 March 2023 |publisher=Israel Hayom |date=2020-08-12}}</ref>
==Development== Development was driven by the need for a cheaper missile defense alternative to the Iron Dome.<ref name="Israel Hayom 1/9">{{cite news |last1=Staff |title=Israeli 'breakthrough' in laser defense will alter strategic reality |url=https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/01/09/israels-laser-defense-breakthrough-could-alter-strategic-reality/ |access-date=22 March 2023 |publisher=Israel Hayom |date=2020-01-09}}</ref>
The system is based on research involving engineers from Ben-Gurion University, the Israel Police, and the Research and Development Directorate of the Israel Defense Forces. Israel Border Police commission Yaakov Shabtai oversaw the system's development. It was officially revealed in 2019, with a claimed effective range of 2 kilometers.<ref name="Israel Hayom 8/20" /> Cost per interception is approximately US$3.50;<ref name="Israel Hayom 1/9" /> cost per interception by Iron Dome was estimated at $100,000–150,000 in 2020.<ref name=episkopos>{{Cite news |title=The "Iron Beam": Israel's Anti-Missile Laser |last=Episkopos |first=Mark |website=The National Interest |date=8 September 2020 |url= https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/iron-beam-israels-anti-missile-laser-168570}}</ref>
==Operational history== Light Blade was deployed operationally for the first time in August 2020 by Israel Border Police in response to the launch of incendiary devices, such as explosive-laden balloons from parts of the Gaza Strip, that caused brush fires in southern Israel.<ref name="Israel Hayom 8/20" /> The Sky Spotter system had been developed to spot and track balloons and kites and direct firefighters to their landing spots without delay, but there had been no way to intercept balloons.<ref>{{cite web | last=Magid | first=Jacob | last2=Kirsh | first2=Elana | last3=Fabian | first3=Emanuel | title=Israel unveils new laser system to shoot down Gaza’s incendiary balloons, drones | website=The Times of Israel | date=26 December 2019 | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-unveils-new-laser-system-to-shoot-down-gazas-incendiary-balloons-drones/}}</ref> Light Blade succeeded with almost 100% of interceptions, but because of its short range balloons sent by Hamas from other areas of the Gaza Strip were not intercepted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ariel Amir |first=Tal |date=26 August 2020 |title='Light Blade' laser system intercepts nearly 100% of Hamas balloons in its sector |url=https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/08/26/light-blade-laser-system-intercepts-nearly-100-of-hamas-balloons-in-its-sector/ |website=IsraelHayom}}</ref>
==See also==
*DragonFire (UK, range classified) *Iron Beam (Israel, range 7 km (4.3 mi))
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Emergency management in Israel Category:Military lasers Category:Israeli inventions Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 2019