The original Iron Beam was a project between the USMC and Israel. If I recall correctly, it had three false starts as by the time the prototype weapon was ready to fire as the technology had already completely leapfrogged past the weapon. I think when Iron Beam is finally actively deployed, we'll hear about it officially a couple years later. Politically it would be best to keep giving all the credit to the Iron Dome and 'dud' rockets. A good defense laser is going to take out a rocket as soon as it can, ideally during the boost phase where stresses on the rocket will tear it apart from even minor damage. Imagine the political backlash if people could prove Israel is dropping Hezbollah rockets on Palestinians without care of consideration for the civilians by taking them out with a laser in the first few moments of launch. "Why didn't you wait until it was over an unpopulated area instead?"
-Lego
