The danger posed by Hezbollah drones has raised alarms across Israel and poses a major test for the IDF in shielding northern border communities and troops. Alongside the Iron Beam laser defense platform from Rafael, which reached the military five months earlier, another domestic laser solution for neutralizing drones has come to light. This technology, called Dronelight, comes from Esh-Tech Systems based in Omer and had previously stayed out of the spotlight.

Esh-Tech launched six years back and kept a deliberately quiet presence until completing its product, now under evaluation both locally and abroad. Throughout development the firm secured three grants from the Israel Innovation Authority, with the most recent one arriving several months ago once progress became evident.

The device projects numerous small coin-sized beams toward an incoming object. Once a single beam registers contact, further beams converge on the same spot, allowing concentrated power to bring the target down swiftly.

Unlike fiber-based designs, Esh-Tech employs a pulse laser that achieves a precise strike in just one hundredth of a second. Rated at four kilowatts, the system can neutralize threats at distances reaching one kilometer.

Although its power level sits below that of Iron Beam, the lower requirement allows Dronelight to draw energy from nearly any available field source without lengthy recharging. This trait proves useful against coordinated drone swarms, where Iron Beam faces limits due to its sequential targeting approach.

Operating like a machine gun, Dronelight requires only a second or two per engagement before shifting to the next target. The result is a capacity to handle roughly thirty threats each minute, far exceeding the four-interception rate of current laser alternatives, all at a cost of about ten agorot per minute of use.

The modest power draw also keeps the unit compact and mobile. Esh-Tech already collaborates with armored vehicle producers in Israel and internationally, holding orders valued in the millions from European and other markets. Development continues on versions for lightweight Jeep mounts as well as stationary installations.

Israeli defense entities, including the Directorate of Defense Research and Development, view Dronelight among the leading innovations in this field. Several months ago the company joined the Mafat for Startups initiative, qualifying it for as much as ten million shekels in product support.

With around twenty staff at its Omer facility, Esh-Tech continues to expand and intends to relocate part of its team to Modi'in. The firm reflects the strengths of emerging defense technology enterprises in outlying regions, employing for instance a physicist with a doctorate who resides in Yeruham. A first operational unit is slated for delivery by September.

CEO Erez Riahi noted that Dronelight aims to boost force readiness against drone threats. He highlighted how high power combined with modest energy use and low operating cost enables broad protection coverage for both fixed sites and mobile units. The distinctive design supports engagements within seconds, delivering quick response and battlefield adaptability.

The Defense Ministry offered no comment on the disclosure.