Following a complex development process, the Israel Ministry of Defense Directorate of Defense Research & Development and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems delivered the first Iron Beam laser system to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The system, which proved its effectiveness in an extensive series of tests against various threats and successfully intercepted rockets, mortars, and UAVs, will be integrated into the Israeli Air Force (IAF) and incorporated into Israel’s multi-layered aerial defense array as a complementary capability to the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow systems. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has delivered the first Iron Beam laser system to the Israel Defense Forces. The high energy laser system can intercept incoming rockets, mortars, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Courtesy of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. BROOKINGS, S.D. — Daktronics, a designer and manufacturer of dynamic video communication displays and control systems, has acquired the intellectual property, equipment assets, and technical expertise from X Display Company Technology Limited, a developer of mass-transfer processes and micro-LED technology. The acquisition includes proprietary technologies and specialized equipment in mass-transfer processes and micro-LED fabrication within the display field of use to enable advanced display solutions with ultra-fine pixel pitches for large-format video walls and medium-sized commercial displays, as well as equipment for the development of micro-IC technology. DENVER — Defense and space technology company Voyager Technologies signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Connecticut to purse collaborative activities spanning academic research, startup and product development, and technology commercialization, as well as to establish a hub for the Voyager Institute for Science, Technology, and Advancement (VISTA). The agreement advances UConn research and commercialization of technologies in the areas of metamaterials, microgravity, and quantum. It also advances VISTA, serving as a complement to the anchor hub at Ohio State University, and builds on the recent joint investment with the University of North Dakota. The expanding VISTA network connects regional centers of excellence into a coordinated ecosystem aligned with future access to space.