Rafael rolls out Lite Beam laser, Trophy updates to protect vehicles from drone threats

Jerusalem — Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems this week is introducing its new Lite Beam laser air defense system to counter drone threats, as well as updated capabilities for its Trophy active protection system to counter aerial threats, such as those posed by UAVs whose munitions threaten vehicles from above.

The more eye-catching of the two systems is Lite Beam, which may be best thought of as a miniature version of the Iron Beam anti-rocket system Rafael has been developing for years.

The system has been reported to have a range of around 2,000 meters, and is made up of a 10 kW laser. Many smaller commercially available quadcopters or similar types of drones fly at altitudes in ranges of a few hundred meters to 5,000 meters, but of course if a loitering munition or kamikaze drone is incoming, the distance would close quickly.

Laser defensive systems have some natural challenges, including the need to stay on target long enough for the beam to penetrate the outside of the incoming system. As a result, the company says it has combined Lite Beam with its Samson 30mm Remote Weapon Station (RWS), mounted on a four-wheeled platform. (The 30mm Samson has previously been featured on a Boxer by Rafael’s Pearson subsidiary in 2023. This could illustrate the possible use of the Lite Beam and Samson combination on platforms such as the Boxer.)

That combo would provide flexible and mobile force protection for infantry or vehicle-borne forces, providing multiple options to hard-kill against drones. Or, as the company put it, “These solutions provide maneuvering forces with robust force protection and flexibility against a wide range of airborne threats, including UAVs.”

However, Rafael has not said if this system is already operational.

For its part, Trophy has been operational and combat proven on Israel Defense Forces Merkava tanks since 2011. The system is also used on the Abrams tanks in the US and was recently chosen for use on Leopard 2 tanks in Germany and Norway.

In the past, Trophy has focused on threats from ATGMs and RPGs, which largely attack the vehicle from the sides. The new updates will allow the system to counter more aerial threats from above, which is increasingly the way drones and loitering munitions attack ground vehicles.

The updated capabilities of the system come out of real-world application from a year of war in Gaza, where the system has been deployed on hundreds of platforms and has seen its most intense combat historically. The threat of drones and UAVs using munitions that strike from above has been a staple of Hamas attacks, to the point that some Israeli tanks were equipped with temporary ad-hoc “pergola” cages above them during the Gaza conflict to keep operators safe. While those temporary solutions were largely effective, a more systematic solution is required.

The company says that the Trophy system “has successfully neutralized airborne targets such as anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), and UAVs, thus enhancing the survivability of armored vehicles.”

In addition, the company adds that it will showcase its “unique modular Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) capabilities, combining advanced detection and interception technologies.”

Rafael noted in its statement that its “cutting-edge technology is operational on over a dozen platforms worldwide, including Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs), and Main Battle Tanks (MBTs). It has consistently demonstrated its adaptability and reliability in complex combat scenarios, providing comprehensive protection for vehicles and crews.”