Articles tagged with "laser-weapon"
Germany: New drone-killing laser weapon planned by Rheinmetall, MBDA
German defense firms Rheinmetall and MBDA Germany plan to form a joint venture by early 2026 to develop and produce naval laser weapon systems for the German Navy. This initiative builds on their cooperation since 2019 and successful testing of a naval laser demonstrator integrated onto a German warship, which operated under real-world conditions for a year. The laser weapon is designed to counter small, fast-moving aerial threats such as drones at short and very short ranges, providing high-precision targeting with minimal collateral damage and reducing reliance on conventional ammunition. The demonstrator underwent extensive sea trials, including over 100 firing and tracking tests, demonstrating the ability to track and engage extremely small targets—comparable in size to a one-euro coin—at long distances and under challenging conditions like ship motion and atmospheric interference. After these trials, the system was transferred to the German armed forces’ Military Technical Service for further land-based testing focused on drone defense. The joint venture aims to nationalize the technology, ensuring
energylaser-weapondrone-defensenaval-technologyRheinmetallMBDAmilitary-technologyUK laser weapon that can kill a coin a kilometer away set to equip destroyers
The UK Ministry of Defence has announced successful trials of the DragonFire laser weapon system, which has shot down high-speed drones flying at speeds up to 650 km/h. The system, developed by MBDA in partnership with QinetiQ and Leonardo, combines a 50-kilowatt-class laser, a high-precision beam director, and advanced command-and-control technology. Notably, the trials included the UK’s first above-the-horizon tracking and engagement of drones, demonstrating the weapon’s precision and stability at long range. The DragonFire laser can accurately target an object as small as a £1 coin from a kilometer away and costs about £10 per shot, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional missile defenses. The UK government has awarded a £316 million contract to equip Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers with the DragonFire system starting in 2027, accelerating deployment by five years. This investment supports nearly 600 jobs across the UK and aligns with the government’s broader strategy to boost
energylaser-weapondirected-energydefense-technologymilitary-innovationhigh-power-laserUK-defenseWorld’s cheapest military laser can take out 200 drones with one shot
Australian defense firm Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has introduced Apollo, the world’s most affordable high-energy military laser weapon, rated at 150 kW. Apollo can destroy up to 200 drones in a single charge without ammunition or external power, neutralizing drones up to 3 kilometers away and disabling optical sensors from as far as 15 kilometers. The mobile, modular system fits inside a standard 20-foot container and can operate autonomously on internal battery power for over 200 engagements, offering full 360-degree coverage against small to medium drones commonly used for surveillance. Designed specifically to counter increasingly prevalent drone swarm tactics that challenge conventional air defenses, Apollo uses directed energy to rapidly disable or destroy aerial targets at the speed of light, reducing logistical costs associated with missiles or bullets. Its ITAR-free status allows Australia and allied nations to deploy and localize the system without U.S. export restrictions, accelerating access to advanced laser defense technology. Apollo can function standalone or integrate with NATO command-and-control and
energylaser-weapondrone-defensehigh-energy-lasermilitary-technologycounter-drone-systemdirected-energyLaser weapon that can be upgraded to 100-kilowatt delivered to Germany
A 20-kilowatt laser weapon demonstrator capable of neutralizing enemy drones has been delivered to Germany, marking a significant advancement in high-energy laser systems for maritime defense. Developed jointly by Rheinmetall and MBDA, the containerized system has undergone over 100 successful firing tests under real operational conditions, including a year-long trial aboard the German frigate SACHSEN. The demonstrator is now stationed at the Laser Competence Center in Meppen for further land-based drone defense testing and is expected to be operationally deployed by 2029. The laser weapon system offers precise and cost-effective countermeasures against small, fast-moving targets such as drones, drone swarms, and speedboats, complementing traditional cannons and guided missiles. Its scalable architecture currently operates at 20 kilowatts but is designed to be upgraded to exceed 100 kilowatts, enabling it to engage larger threats including supersonic guided missiles, rockets, mortar, and artillery shells. The system integrates advanced
energylaser-weaponhigh-energy-laserdefense-technologydrone-defensemaritime-securityRheinmetallWorld's First Laser Weapon
The article introduces the Apollo, the world’s first operational laser weapon with a power output of 100 kilowatts. Designed primarily for defense against drone swarms, the Apollo can reportedly neutralize up to 50 drones per minute. This capability marks a significant advancement in directed-energy weapons, offering rapid, precise, and cost-effective countermeasures compared to traditional projectile-based systems. The Apollo’s deployment signals a transformative shift in modern warfare, emphasizing the growing role of laser technology in military defense. Its ability to engage multiple targets quickly could redefine battlefield strategies, particularly in countering unmanned aerial threats. However, the article does not provide detailed technical specifications or discuss potential limitations, leaving some aspects of its operational effectiveness and broader implications for future combat scenarios unclear.
robotenergylaser-weapondefense-technologymilitary-technologydirected-energy-weaponsNATO's new 100kW laser weapon can destroy 20 drones per minute
Australia’s Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited (EOS) has secured a €71.4 million (A$125 million) contract to supply a 100kW high-energy laser weapon system designed to neutralize drone swarms for a European NATO member state. This marks the world’s first export order for a laser defense system of this class. The fully mobile, truck-mounted system can destroy up to 20 drones per minute using laser strikes that travel at the speed of light. It integrates advanced radar, threat detection, target acquisition, and beam-locking technologies to ensure precision and rapid response, with each laser shot costing less than ten cents. Manufacturing will occur at EOS’s Singapore facility, with delivery scheduled between 2025 and 2028. The system represents a significant advancement over traditional kinetic counter-drone solutions, addressing the growing threat of drone swarms that can overwhelm conventional air defenses. Developed through three years of rigorous field testing and live trials, the laser weapon maintains accuracy over long distances and
energylaser-weapondrone-defensehigh-energy-lasercounter-drone-technologymilitary-technologyNATO-defenseChina's new 2.47kW portable laser works in Arctic cold, Saharan desert
Chinese scientists at the National University of Defence Technology have developed a portable 2.47-kilowatt fiber laser weapon capable of operating in extreme temperatures ranging from -58°F (-50°C) to 122°F (50°C) without requiring cooling or heating systems. This innovation allows the laser to function effectively in diverse environments, from the Arctic to the Sahara Desert, overcoming the typical need for bulky cooling infrastructure found in most high-power lasers. The laser achieves this through several technological advancements, including a novel low-heat pump laser design, smart multi-directional light injection, thermal isolation of sensitive components, tight fiber cooling to suppress energy loss, and a ytterbium-doped fiber core that efficiently converts energy into laser light with 71% efficiency. With near-perfect beam quality at 2.47 kW output, the laser can disable drones and cut through various materials from over 0.62 miles (1 km) away. Its portability—small enough to fit in a suitcase—offers significant
energyfiber-laserportable-laserytterbium-doped-fiberthermal-managementlaser-weapondefense-technology