https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/35160486/isra...been%20revealed

ISRAEL has become the first country in the world to shoot down drones using a state-of-the-art laser system, it has been revealed.

A highly-advanced model was operated to intercept Hezbollah drones along the Lebanese border in a huge breakthrough for the country's air defence.

The technological marvel was designed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems as a scaled-down prototype version of the £413million Iron Beam, which is due to be unveiled later this year.

Hezbollah drones were successfully blasted out of the sky by the system in question in late October, sources say.

Use of the laser system was classified and a ban from reporting has only now been lifted.

Its deployment has been confirmed by Israel's Ministry of Defence, which hailed "an accelerated development programme to deploy revolutionary interception systems".

The laser systems will be integrated into Israel's multi-tiered air defence, which includes the world's most famed missile shield, the Iron Dome.

It marks the first operational use of Israel's laser defence technology - touted as the most advanced internationally.

Jaw-dropping footage shows the system in action, carefully scanning the sky before blitzing an incoming drone that then crashes to the ground.

The laser systems offer a more cost-effective solution to combating air threats.