The Tikvah Podcast Yaakov Katz on Israel’s New Laser Defenses
11 snips
Sep 25, 2025 Yaakov Katz, former editor of the Jerusalem Post and author of *While Israel Slept*, lends his expertise on Israel's groundbreaking Iron Beam laser defense system. The discussion unveils Iron Beam's revolutionary impact on missile defense, drastically reducing interception costs from thousands to a mere two dollars. Katz delves into Israel's innovative spirit, driven by existential threats and cutting-edge R&D. He also raises critical points about the balance of technology and human judgment in defense strategies, especially in light of past intelligence failures.
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Economic Breakthrough In Missile Defense
- Iron Beam promises to collapse the economic asymmetry of missile defense by using electricity instead of expensive interceptors.
- Each laser interception costs roughly two dollars versus tens of thousands per interceptor, changing defense calculus.
From Arrow To Operational Lasers
- Israel has long developed layered missile defense starting with Arrow and culminating now in a ground-based laser system.
- Iron Beam marks a historic, operational leap akin to realizing decades-old 'Star Wars' concepts.
US Airborne Laser Failure Recalled
- Yaakov Katz recounts visiting a US airborne-laser program 15 years ago that consumed billions and failed to produce an effective system.
- He contrasts that failure with Israel's recent success in building a compact, operational ground laser.
