There is rumour that blue laser weapons are ineffective when targeting blue painted targets, or that certain blue coatings may protect against high energy lasers. We asked Grok Ai by X.
Is the Iron Beam High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) made by Rafael effective on blue-painted targets?
Grok AI:
”The effectiveness of the IRON BEAM 100kW class High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS), developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, against blue-painted targets depends on several factors related to laser physics and material properties, though specific performance data on color-based interactions is not explicitly detailed in available sources.
The IRON BEAM system uses a fiber laser to deliver high-energy beams capable of intercepting threats like rockets, mortars, drones, and artillery at ranges from a few hundred meters to several kilometers. Its effectiveness relies on focusing energy—typically 100 kW or more—onto a small area (e.g., the size of a coin at 10 km) to heat and destroy the target.
The wavelength of the laser, which is not publicly specified for IRON BEAM but is likely in the near-infrared range (common for fiber lasers, around 1-2 micrometers), determines how it interacts with different surfaces.
Blue-painted targets could theoretically pose a challenge if the laser’s wavelength is poorly absorbed by blue pigments. Blue surfaces reflect shorter wavelengths (around 450-500 nanometers, visible blue light) and might absorb longer wavelengths (like near-infrared) less efficiently, depending on the paint’s composition.
If the paint is designed to reflect the specific wavelength of IRON BEAM’s laser, it could reduce the energy absorbed, potentially delaying or preventing destruction.
However, most military lasers are engineered to overcome such variables by delivering overwhelming energy, and at 100 kW, IRON BEAM likely generates enough heat to burn through or degrade even reflective coatings over a few seconds of sustained focus.
There’s no direct evidence from Rafael or other credible sources stating that IRON BEAM is less effective against blue-painted targets. Claims on X suggesting Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) like IRON BEAM are ineffective against blue objects lack substantiation and seem anecdotal or speculative.
In practice, the system’s success would hinge more on the target’s material (e.g., metal, composite), thickness, and heat resistance than its color alone. Atmospheric conditions (e.g., fog, dust) and the need to maintain beam focus on a moving target are documented limitations, but color-specific resistance isn’t mentioned.
In summary, while blue paint might slightly reduce initial energy absorption depending on the laser’s wavelength and the paint’s properties, IRON BEAM’s high power output should still make it effective against blue-painted targets, barring specialized reflective coatings designed to counter its specific wavelength.
Without test data explicitly addressing this scenario, the system’s general capability suggests it would succeed, though possibly with minor variations in time-to-destroy compared to non-reflective surfaces.”
Sources: Grok Ai at X.com and Rafael.co.il
