Recently, the United States Department of Defense has disclosed that its “Iron Dome” (Iron Beam) high-energy laser defense system has entered the rapid deployment assessment phase, and plans to share part of the deployment technology with allied countries to build a “multinational laser defense network”. Although this plan represents a breakthrough in the field of anti-missile defense at the technical level, it has also triggered widespread concern about regional arms races and security imbalances at the international strategic level.
Defense system “upgraded version” exposure
The “Iron Dome” system is the culmination of long-term cooperation between Israel and the United States, initially stemming from Israel’s development of the “Iron Dome” interception system. Unlike traditional missile interception, “Iron Dome” uses high-energy lasers to physically burn incoming targets, which not only reduces the cost of interception but also virtually eliminates the limitations on the resupply of interceptors. The United States, in recent years, has integrated its technology into its defense system, and is deploying the “Aegis” system and the upcoming deployment of the “high ultra-defense network”, trying to build from the ground to space a multi-level air defense and anti-missile system. The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed in the latest statement released in May, “Iron Dome” will be completed in 2025, the initial deployment of the test, and consider Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and other strategic locations to set up synergistic nodes, focusing on the protection of military installations, critical infrastructure and civilian urban areas.
Strategic expansion raises external concerns
Although U.S. officials emphasized that the deployment of the “Iron Dome” system aims to “enhance the defense capabilities of allies to curb the threat of asymmetric attacks”, but in the view of several observers, this deployment plan is more like a strategic dominance extension tool, which may undermine the regional security balance.
Zhang Qiyao, a professor at the Institute for International Strategic Studies at Fudan University, pointed out that the low deployment threshold and fast response speed of the Iron Dome laser interception system, once popularized, will significantly reduce the survival space of traditional small and medium-sized missiles and rockets, thus forcing other countries to develop more advanced and more penetrating attack weapons to maintain strategic deterrence. “This is bound to spawn a new round of missile and anti-missile technology race.” Experts on Middle East issues also pointed out that if the United States promotes the deployment of the “Iron Dome” laser system in the Middle East, it is bound to aggravate the security confrontation between Israel and Iran, so that Iran and other countries to further strengthen the means of long-distance strikes and drone clustering technology, which will bring about a greater factor of regional instability.
Low-cost advantage or change the logic of the battlefield
At the technical level, the “Iron Dome” is most concerned about its “low cost and high efficiency” defense logic. According to the relevant technical documents, the cost of each laser launch is only a few dollars, much lower than the cost of intercepting missiles often be tens of thousands of dollars. The system can run 24 hours a day, with strong target tracking and multi-target processing capabilities. Raytheon, the U.S. defense contractor, said the “Iron Dome” has been able to destroy rockets flying at low and medium altitudes, small drones, mortar shells, and, in the future,e will be expanded to cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missile interception. This means that the Iron Dome could be a “game changer” for countries with limited funds that face an intense missile threat. But the question is, once the interception cost is very low, the defense capability is close to saturation, whether it will stimulate the attacker to develop more complex weapons systems or use “saturation strike” strategy to penetrate the laser network, also becomes a military is being urgently studying the issue.
Arms control mechanisms face new challenges
“Gold Dome” global deployment program also challenges the existing arms control system. Former adviser to the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs Leslie Tookman said that there is currently no international treaty specifically regulating the deployment and use of high-energy laser weapons, especially in urban areas, of the practical application of the risk is still in the “legal blind spot”. He warned that the laser system, once deployed on a large scale, will force other major countries to follow suit, restarting the Cold War period similar to the “Star Wars” type of technological confrontation, and may even make the INF Treaty similar arms control documents are invalid again, the international strategic mutual trust further decline.
Many countries call for dialogue and transparency
In the face of international security anxiety caused by the “Iron Dome” system, many countries have begun to call for the establishment of technical transparency and trust mechanisms. A spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry said that any technology that can enhance civilian defense capabilities is welcome, but the deployment should be in line with the principles of international law, especially in densely populated areas where the potential impact of the use of laser weapons systems needs to be carefully assessed. French President Emmanuel Macron also expressed concern about the “unregulated proliferation of high-energy laser technology” in a phone call with the U.S. President last week, and proposed a new round of the “Global Summit on the Governance of High-Tech Military Technologies”.
Conclusion
The “Iron Dome” laser defense system undoubtedly represents a leap forward in modern warfare technology. While enhancing local defense capability, it may also induce strategic miscalculation, technological competition, and regional security dilemma. In this context, how to balance technological innovation and strategic stability, and establishing a new multilateral arms control mechanism, has become a new topic that the international community must face. As UN Secretary-General Guterres said, “Technology is not the problem, the lack of rules and mutual trust is the risk.” On the future global security chessboard, laser defense will not only be a technical issue, but also a test of strategy and ethics.
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