Major contractors, including RTX in the USA, QinetiQ in the UK and MBDA in Europe, are investing heavily in this technology.
Faced with the proliferation of low-cost drones, defense contractors are accelerating the development of high-energy laser weapons. These systems offer a cost-effective solution for countering emerging threats without the need for costly traditional missiles. Notable advances have been made, notably with the UK’s DragonFire system and successful tests by the US military in the Middle East. However, technical challenges remain, linked to integration, atmospheric conditions and development costs. Experts believe that these weapons will complement existing defense systems, offering a cost-effective response to specific threats.
The rise of laser weapons to counter low-cost drones
Defense companies are stepping up their efforts to develop high-energy laser weapons, a direct response to the proliferation of low-cost drones and missiles in theaters of operation. Major players such as RTX in the USA, MBDA in Europe and QinetiQ in the UK are investing heavily in this cutting-edge technology, long perceived as the stuff of science fiction.
The race for laser weaponry is driven by the need for governments to find more cost-effective solutions to threats that are increasingly affordable. Indeed, the use of traditional missiles, which can cost several million euros, to neutralize drones worth just a few thousand euros, creates an economic asymmetry unfavorable to defense forces. For example, a Patriot missile, designed to intercept sophisticated aerial targets, costs around 2.1 million euros, while drones used by insurgent groups can be acquired for just a few thousand euros. This disproportion highlights the urgent need to develop more cost-effective alternatives, such as laser systems.
Recent technological advances
For decades, the USA has been researching “directed energy weapons”, including lasers and high-power microwave systems, notably as part of the Strategic Defense Initiative of the 1980s. However, it was only with recent advances in computer, optical and fiber-optic technologies that these weapons became conceivable for operational use.
The US Army has taken a significant step forward by using high-energy lasers to shoot down drones in the Middle East, demonstrating the viability of this technology under real-life conditions. For its part, in April 2024, the UK Ministry of Defence announced the acceleration of the development of its DragonFire laser system. The system is due to be deployed on Royal Navy ships by 2027, five years earlier than originally planned. The DragonFire is capable of targeting any visible aerial target with an accuracy equivalent to hitting a 23mm-diameter coin from a distance of 1 km, at an estimated cost of around 11.50 euros per shot. This accuracy and low cost per shot represent major advances over traditional interception systems.
Technical and operational challenges
Despite these advances, a number of technical challenges remain for the integration and effective use of laser weapons. One of the main obstacles is the need to maintain laser beam accuracy on the target for a sufficiently long time to neutralize it. This requires highly sophisticated tracking and stabilization systems, capable of compensating for firing platform movements and environmental disturbances.
In addition, atmospheric conditions such as smoke, dust or humidity can reduce the effectiveness and range of lasers. These airborne particles can diffuse or absorb the beam’s energy, reducing its power before it reaches the target. Consequently, laser weapons must be deployed in environments where these factors are controlled or predictable, limiting their use in certain situations.
Furthermore, although the cost per shot is relatively low, the development and commissioning of these systems requires substantial investment. For example, the UK Ministry of Defence plans to invest £350 million (around €410 million) in the DragonFire program by April 2027. This investment covers research, development, testing and integration of laser systems on existing platforms, reflecting the scale of resources required to deploy this technology effectively.
Strategic and economic implications
The adoption of laser weapons for defense against drones and other airborne threats has significant strategic and economic implications. From an economic point of view, reducing the cost per intercept enables armed forces to manage their budgetary resources more effectively. Instead of spending millions of euros for each missile intercepted, the use of low-cost-per-shot lasers offers a more financially sustainable alternative. This saving could enable funds to be reallocated to other strategic priorities or to the ongoing improvement of defense capabilities.
Strategically, the ability to quickly and effectively neutralize multiple threats, including swarms of drones, strengthens the defensive posture of nations equipped with such technologies. UAVs, because of their low cost and ease of deployment, have become preferred tools for asymmetric operations and saturation attacks. Laser weapons offer an appropriate response to these tactics, providing effective defense against a large number of targets at marginal cost.
Laser weapons complement existing systems
Experts agree that laser weapons will not totally replace traditional defense systems, but rather complement existing arsenals. They are a suitable solution for neutralizing low-cost threats such as drones, freeing up more sophisticated interception systems for more complex strategic targets.
For example, a surface-to-air missile system like the Patriot PAC-3, used by several armies around the world, is designed to intercept ballistic missiles and enemy aircraft. However, its use against a low-cost drone represents a disproportionate expense and logistical overload. Laser weapons, on the other hand, enable continuous defense, with manageable energy consumption and virtually unlimited autonomy, as long as the power supply is stable.
Moreover, the effectiveness of lasers depends on their ability to track and stabilize the beam on a moving target. Naval and airborne platforms will need to incorporate advanced guidance and stabilization systems to maximize the effectiveness of these weapons. For example, the DragonFire system developed by MBDA is designed for integration on Royal Navy ships, requiring extensive testing to ensure its robustness in the face of movement and weather conditions.
This complementarity means that armies will have to rethink their doctrines of engagement, combining existing technologies with these new capabilities to maximize their operational effectiveness.
Limits and future prospects
Despite their potential, laser weapons still have a number of technical limitations that are holding back their mass adoption in the short term. As mentioned above, their effectiveness is highly dependent on weather conditions. Factors such as rain, fog or smoke can reduce the range and power of the laser, thus affecting its effectiveness in the field.
Another major challenge is powering these systems. High-energy lasers require powerful, stable power sources. On fixed platforms such as military bases, this constraint is relatively manageable. However, for on-board applications on ships or land vehicles, compact and efficient generators will be needed, capable of supplying sufficient power without compromising mobility.
Finally, another aspect to consider is adversary resistance. States and armed groups seeking to circumvent this new threat could develop countermeasures to reduce the effectiveness of lasers. Reflective coatings or materials resistant to high temperatures could limit target destruction. Similarly, saturation attacks, involving simultaneous swarms of drones, could complicate the defensive response.
However, research is advancing rapidly. Experts believe that the next generation of laser weapons will be more powerful, with greater range and the ability to operate in more varied weather conditions. Concepts such as free-electron lasers or hybrid systems combining lasers and microwave weapons are already being studied to overcome these limitations.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.