During the recent conflict between Israel and Gaza, Israel's Iron Dome system successfully intercepted 421 out of 1,506 incoming rockets, firing 573 interceptors. However, a more exotic laser-based missile defence system, once considered, has yet to materialise despite decades of development.
Defence firms continue to pursue laser technology. US company Lockheed Martin recently announced a new system called Area Defense Anti-Munitions (Adam), which uses a 10-kilowatt solid-state fibre laser to destroy small rockets from 2km away. Other firms like Northrop Grumman have developed mobile laser weapons such as the Firestrike.
Despite these advances, critics argue that laser weapons remain impractical due to size, complexity, and technical challenges. Past projects like the Airborne Laser and the Nautilus chemical laser were cancelled after years of effort and significant investment. The Nautilus laser, jointly developed by the US and Israel, faced issues with toxic chemicals and poor tracking, leading to its abandonment in favour of Iron Dome.
Subrata Ghoshroy, a research associate at MIT, noted that the Nautilus laser's use of deuterium fluoride posed safety risks, as a single rocket hitting a canister could cause a major hazard. He stated, 'My concerns were validated once the whole thing was abandoned.'
