Light Blade

Light Blade (Hebrew: להב אור, Lahav Or) is a laser-based air defense system intended to intercept airborne devices such as incendiary balloons, incendiary kites, and miniature UAVs such as quadcopters, and RAM (rocket, artillery, and mortar) threats.

[1] Development was driven by the need for a cheaper missile defense alternative to the Iron Dome.

Israel Border Police commission Yaakov Shabtai oversaw the system's development.

[3] Light Blade was deployed operationally for the first time in August 2020 by Israel Border Police in response to the launch of incendiary devices, such as explosive-laden balloons from parts of the Gaza Strip, that caused brush fires in southern Israel.

[1] The Sky Spotter system had been developed to spot and track balloons and kites and direct firefighters to their landing spots without delay, but there had been no way to intercept balloons.