Japan moves to counter China with first sea trial of 100-kW laser

Japan has initiated live sea trials of a 100-kilowatt-class laser weapon system aboard the Maritime Self-Defense Force test ship Asuka, marking a significant advancement in its directed-energy defense capabilities. Developed by the Defense Ministry’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA), the laser system is designed to intercept drones, unmanned aerial vehicles, and mortar rounds. The weapon combines ten domestically produced 10-kilowatt fiber lasers into a unified beam exceeding 100 kilowatts and is housed in two container-sized modules equipped with beam control optics, power management, and cooling systems. Unlike missile interceptors, the laser relies solely on electrical power, offering an “unlimited magazine” and significantly lower cost per shot, making it particularly effective against large numbers of inexpensive aerial threats. The sea trials aim to evaluate the system’s ability to detect, track, and engage fast-moving targets from a moving ship, using sensors such as thermal imagers and precision tracking equipment to maintain beam lock despite environmental