School of War Ep 267: Michael Lurie on Israel’s New Laser Weapon
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Jan 20, 2026 Michael Lurie, CEO and President of Rafael USA, dives into the future of missile defense with an emphasis on High Energy Lasers and the new Iron Beam system. He discusses the costs of traditional interceptors versus laser technology, which dramatically lowers operational expenses. Lurie also shares insights on the effectiveness of lasers against swarms of drones and how they integrate into existing defense systems. Plus, he reveals the importance of rapid adaptation in modern warfare and U.S.-Israel collaborations on laser systems.
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Dramatic Cost Per Intercept Shift
- Tamir interceptors cost roughly $100k–$200k each and must be manufactured and transported.
- Iron Beam reduces per-intercept cost to mainly electricity — tens of dollars per shot.
Adaptive Optics Solved Range Dispersion
- Key technical breakthroughs were high-power lasers and adaptive optics to overcome atmospheric dispersion.
- Rafael claims adaptive optics deliver 95–99% of laser energy to targets at kilometers' range.
Portable Power And Cooling Design
- Rafael engineered energy and cooling so the system fits into a 20-foot crate for ground and ship use.
- Air deployment remains a different, unsolved challenge for now.
