Articles tagged with "laser-weapons"
Iron Beam: Israel’s Laser Weapon That Shoots Down Rockets & Drones
Iron Beam is Israel’s newly operational high-energy laser defense system, introduced in late 2025 as a complement to the existing Iron Dome missile defense. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Iron Beam targets short-range threats such as rockets, mortar rounds, and small drones, which are difficult and costly to intercept with traditional missiles. Instead of firing physical interceptors, Iron Beam uses a laser to rapidly heat and destroy targets, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution that can engage threats continuously as long as power is available. The strategic significance of Iron Beam lies in its operational advantages: it eliminates the need for missile reloads and stockpile management during prolonged conflicts, operates at the speed of light, and reduces collateral damage by minimizing debris from interceptions. It integrates seamlessly with Israel’s existing radar and command systems, enabling coordinated defense by assigning threats to the most suitable interceptor. While it does not replace missile defenses due to limitations like weather and range, Iron Beam serves as the innermost layer of Israel’s air
energylaser-weaponsdefense-technologyhigh-energy-lasersmissile-defensedirected-energy-weaponsmilitary-technologyRise of military lasers in 2025: How directed weapons reshaped defense plans
As of 2025, laser weapons have transitioned from experimental concepts to active frontline defense tools, with countries including the US, UK, Israel, Australia, and China deploying them primarily for air defense. This shift reflects significant technological advancements that have overcome earlier limitations related to power and cost. Laser systems now offer precise, cost-effective solutions for neutralizing drones, missiles, and other airborne threats, reshaping military strategies worldwide. Key developments highlighted in 2025 include the US Navy’s SONGBOW program, which aims to produce a 400-kilowatt shipboard laser capable of destroying drone swarms and cruise missiles at long range. Australia’s Apollo system provides an efficient, low-cost defense against drones with 360-degree coverage and no need for traditional ammunition. Israel’s Iron Beam, integrated with its Iron Dome defense network, offers rapid interception of rockets and mortars at a lower cost than missile interceptors. The UK’s DragonFire laser demonstrated high accuracy and low operational cost, capable of shooting down
energymilitary-technologylaser-weaponsdirected-energydefense-systemsdrone-defenselaser-weaponryKiller drones with laser weapons to join US Army's unmanned fleet
The US Army is preparing to deploy a new generation of large unmanned aerial systems (UAS) equipped with high-energy laser weapons designed to disable enemy sensors, melt electronics, and destroy hostile drones. This initiative marks a significant evolution in military drone capabilities since the MQ-1C Gray Eagle and aligns with the Pentagon’s prioritization of directed-energy technologies. The upcoming drones, classified as Group 4 and 5 platforms weighing over 1,320 pounds, will feature modular payloads, with laser weapons serving as theater-specific add-ons rather than standard equipment on every unit. These laser systems aim to provide cost-effective defense by neutralizing aerial threats without relying on traditional kinetic interceptors. General Atomics, the maker of the Gray Eagle, is developing a contender based on its STOL Mojave platform, which shares design elements with the extended-range MQ-1C. The company emphasizes that its laser weapons will focus on disrupting enemy systems—blinding optics, starting fires, and overheating electronics—rather
robotenergymilitary-technologyunmanned-aerial-systemslaser-weaponsdirected-energy-systemsdefense-technologyUS firm develops high capacity battery for next-gen laser weapons
KULR Technology, a US-based company, has developed a next-generation 400V rugged battery prototype designed to power high-power laser weapons, particularly for counter-drone (Counter-UAS) applications. The Houston firm completed the prototype in just five weeks using in-house testing and advanced engineering methodologies, including model-based electrical and thermal simulations, proprietary cell selection, and a design-for-safety architecture. The battery is engineered to withstand harsh operational conditions and meet the rigorous MIL-STD-810H military standards. Production is planned to begin in 2026 as part of an expansion of KULR’s defense-focused KULR ONE Guardian (K1G) platform. The development comes amid a rising global demand for counter-drone systems, as drones have become a significant threat in modern warfare for surveillance, reconnaissance, and strikes. The directed energy weapons market is projected to grow from $7.9 billion to nearly $40 billion over the next decade, driven by increased defense budgets and modernization efforts
energybattery-technologydirected-energy-weaponsdefense-technologylaser-weaponsdrone-countermeasureshigh-capacity-batteriesUkraine destroys Russia's test aircraft for airborne laser weapons
A recent Ukrainian strike on the Beriev aircraft manufacturing facility in Taganrog, southwestern Russia, destroyed a rare and significant Russian military asset: the A-60 airborne laser test aircraft. The A-60, a unique Soviet-era platform built from an Il-76MD transport jet, was Russia’s only flying testbed for airborne laser weapons. Satellite imagery confirmed the aircraft was engulfed in flames and severely damaged, marking a major setback for Russia’s laser weapons program, whose current status was already uncertain. Alongside the A-60, another advanced aircraft, likely a testbed for the A-100 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system, was also destroyed. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reported using a combination of Bars long-range jet-powered attack drones and Neptune land-attack cruise missiles to carry out the strike. The Neptune missile, originally an anti-ship weapon, has been adapted for deep strikes into Russian territory, while the Bars drone represents Ukraine’s growing long-range strike capabilities
energylaser-weaponsmilitary-aviationairborne-laserdrone-technologymissile-technologyaerospace-materialsChina claims its new naval laser outperforms powerful US Helios for drone defense
China has unveiled the Liaoyuan-1 (LY-1) naval laser weapon system, claiming it surpasses the capabilities of comparable U.S. systems like the Helios laser deployed on the USS Preble. According to a Chinese military magazine, the LY-1 is designed as a last line of defense on ships, tasked with close interception of incoming missiles and drones. The system reportedly features a power output between 180 and 250 kilowatts, significantly higher than the U.S. Helios system’s 60-plus kilowatts, and possesses a lens aperture roughly twice as large, along with more advanced auxiliary equipment. The Chinese publication also suggests the LY-1 can be upgraded with additional power units and highlights its low operational cost and potential effectiveness against anti-ship missiles. Globally, laser weapons are increasingly seen as vital assets for countering aerial threats, with countries including the U.S., U.K., China, and India actively developing and testing such technologies. The U.S.
energylaser-weaponsmilitary-technologydrone-defensenaval-defense-systemsChina-militarydirected-energy-weaponsChina plans defense system with laser, missiles to counter drone swarms
China is developing an advanced, multilayered naval defense system designed to protect warships from large-scale drone swarm attacks, which pose a significant threat to expensive military vessels. Spearheaded by Professor Guo Chuanfu and his team at the PLA Navy’s Dalian Naval Academy, the proposed Naval Counter-Swarm System integrates lasers, microwave beams, and hypersonic missiles to detect and disrupt thousands of cheap, fast-moving drones. This system, described as a “digital-age Great Wall,” leverages a fused network of satellite, airborne, shipborne, and sea-surface sensors—covering radar, infrared, optical, radio frequency, and acoustic technologies—coordinated by AI to maintain continuous tracking of low-signature targets. The research highlights the vulnerability of traditional warship defenses against overwhelming drone swarms, which could potentially destroy stealth vessels. To address this, the system employs a “dynamic kill net” approach using software-defined networking and human-machine teaming, enabling real-time reassignment of
robotAIdefense-technologydrone-swarmlaser-weaponshypersonic-missilesmilitary-IoT