The development of a cutting-edge rocket interception system, affectionately dubbed "Magan Or," is currently underway at Rafael. This groundbreaking system is poised to face its first real-world tests in the southern region of Israel against threats posed by Hamas.

In recent days, the Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructures in the Ministry of Defense, in collaboration with Rafael, has been evaluating the feasibility of deploying the Magan Or system in southern Israel. Its objective? To challenge and intercept rocket barrages originating from Gaza. It's important to note that the operational test of Magan Or will not compromise the capabilities of the Iron Dome, which will be activated whenever missile launches from Gaza are detected. A security source described this as a "wet experiment," capitalizing on the ongoing conflict in the south for testing purposes.

הפעלה מבצעית של נשק הלייזר נגד האיום הרקטי – מכפיל כוח
חוקר המכון, ד"ר יהושע קליסקי, כותב:

ידיעות שהופיעו בסוף השבוע בעיתונות מדווחות על כך שניתן אישור ממשרד הביטחון להפעלה מבצעית של מערכת הלייזר רב העוצמה "מגן אור", שפותחה בשנים האחרונות בישראל, כשנתיים לפני הזמן המתוכנן.… pic.twitter.com/0rOvDPaUOY

— INSS (@INSS_Hebrew) October 30, 2023

The Magan Or system is slated to commence initial operations in the years 2024-2025. Recent years have witnessed significant advancements in the field of laser weapons, paving the way for this remarkable development. This innovative system is designed to intercept a range of threats, including rockets, mortar bombs, and drones, all at a remarkably low cost—just the price of the electricity needed to power it.

Rafael's developers view Magan Or as a complementary product to the Iron Dome, another creation of the company. These two systems are designed to work in tandem. When the command and control system of Magan Or locks onto a target and directs a powerful laser beam, the Iron Dome interceptor will not engage, effectively preventing redundant missile interceptions. Notably, the cost of a single Iron Dome interceptor is approximately $50,000.

What a technological performance Israel’s iron dome is showing! Successfully interception of missiles at this level is commendable. #AlJazeera #BreakingNews #Gaza_Genocide #GazaCity #GazaUnderSiege #Palaestine #IsraelPalestineWar #HamasislSIS #HamasTerrorists #HumanRights #Gaza pic.twitter.com/Iq2AeqiINv

— Aanand Krishna (@ComplexKrish) October 26, 2023

One of the remarkable features of the laser beam used in Magan Or is its invisibility and silence. According to the system's developers, it is designed to intercept rockets and mortar bombs while they are still in enemy territory, without triggering alarms in Israel. Dr. Yohai, one of the leaders in the system's development program at Rafael, shared insights with reporters from the Israeli financial newspaper "Calcalist" back in April. He stated, "We have successfully conducted significant and large-scale demonstration experiments to prove the system's feasibility in countering threats and harnessing the technological capabilities we've cultivated over the years. In one of the upcoming confrontations, we will deploy the system in the field, observe it in real-life scenarios, gather data, conduct thorough analysis, and assess its performance. It's not simply a binary outcome—it's a continuous process of improvement."