Naftali Bennett: Laser air defense to counter Iranian threats will be ready within a year
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett says the country will be equipped with a laser air defense system within a year.
Mr. Bennett said on Tuesday that Israel is accelerating the preparation of the system.
Israel's existing anti-aircraft systems cost a lot to destroy aerial threats, and using a laser system would reduce the high cost of destroying threats.
Israel has repeatedly been targeted by rocket attacks from Iranian-backed militant groups such as Hamas.
According to Reuters, Israeli defense officials had previously said that such a system, which can destroy drones and rockets using lasers, would be operational by 2025. But now, amid tensions with Iran, the Israeli prime minister says such a system could be operational in a year.
The Israeli prime minister said the new generation of air defense "can also serve our friends in the region, who are exposed to serious threats from Iran and its proxies."
The United Arab Emirates, which has diplomatic relations with Israel, was recently targeted by attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthis.
Bennett said in a speech in Tel Aviv that the Israeli army will initially bring this laser-based system on a trial basis and will operate it first in the south and then in other parts of the country.
Source: Voice of America
