Lasers, secret weapons and more: Israel reportedly working on new box of surprises for Iran and co

Economic Times

6 hours ago

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Following its decisive victory in the 12-day war with Iran, Israel is now pouring billions into replenishing its arsenal and developing a new generation of secret weapons, dubbed a 'box of surprises.'
According to a report by Calcalistech , Israel's success in the recent conflict is widely credited to decades of strategic investment in military technology and deep intelligence penetration into the Iranian regime. The use of advanced standoff missiles—such as the Rampage and the ROCKS—allowed Israeli jets to hit critical components of Iran's air defense systems without even entering Iranian airspace. Meanwhile, Mossad-operated drones struck targets deep within Tehran, including high-ranking Revolutionary Guard officials and figures in Iran's nuclear program.
'These capabilities required years of development and massive budgets. If not for key decisions made more than a decade ago, Israel could have found itself confronting Iran with limited options,' the report states. However, many of the systems used during the conflict have now been 'burned'—exposed through active combat—and must be upgraded or replaced. Intelligence agencies around the world are likely analyzing missile fragments to understand how Israel executed such precise strikes.
One major focus for Israel's future defense strategy is the development of the Iron Beam, a laser-based air defense system seen as the next evolution of the Iron Dome. Unlike its predecessor, the Iron Beam boasts a 100-kilowatt-class high-energy laser that can neutralize rockets by detonating their propellant or warheads mid-air. With near-unlimited shots constrained only by power supply, the system promises drastically lower operational costs—estimated at just 14 cents per kilowatt-hour in Israel. The recent conflict has also drained Israel's military supplies, including interceptor missiles, bombs, and drone payloads. Hundreds of aircraft require intensive post-war maintenance. Despite procurement delays due to budget issues, Israeli defense companies—IAI, Rafael, and Elbit Systems—are operating at full capacity. In Q1 2025, their combined order backlog reached a record 235 billion shekels, driven by rising domestic and global demand.
Meanwhile, Israel remains actively engaged in Gaza, where ongoing operations continue to test and stretch its military capabilities. The IDF is working to upgrade armored brigades with new APCs and Merkava tanks while dealing with the prolonged human and political toll of war. 'Israel must end the war in Gaza, return the hostages, and extract lessons for the next phase with Iran,' said Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilead of Reichman University.