In a key gain for military tech, Australia completes development of high-energy laser weapons. These creative munitions loomed large for NATO because they’re designed to do something unique. These advanced laser systems, developed by the Australian company EOS, can effectively address the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly in light of recent conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Our competition Countries all around the world are pouring money into similar technologies. Consequently, the need for affordable, effective solutions to deter these aerial threats is more urgent than ever.
EOS chief executive Andreas Schwer highlighted that these high-energy lasers can target up to 20 drones per minute at a range of six kilometers. This precision targeting power allows them to shoot straight up, shooting sideways instead — arguably eliminating a key drawback of many classic weaponry. The baseline tactical laser system will be fielded to an allied NATO member nation no later than 18 months from contract award. This delivery represents an important move in strengthening NATO’s anti-drone defenses against enemy drones.
The Shift in Warfare Dynamics
The nature of war has changed in profound ways. In the current war in Ukraine, drones are key instruments in the fight. “Shortly after the conflict began, the urgency surrounding developing affordable air defense systems that are able to detect and defeat UAVs was intensified,” Schwer said. At the same time, he emphasized that the sheer scale of battlefield drone use has made this technology especially crucial. This was most recently the case when Russia and Ukraine employed one-way attack drones in their war of attrition against each other in Ukraine.
This was a process that NATO recognized needed innovative thinking to reinforce and revitalize collective security. A spokesperson emphasized that the alliance is “constantly looking into innovations that strengthen our shared security, including new means of defending against drones.” Mr. Bronk further noted, “There is a much greater awareness than there was a few years ago in Europe, particularly about the urgent need for affordable short-range air defense systems that can take out Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.”
As countries around the world begin to understand the vulnerability that drones create, the demand for systems like EOS’s lasers is skyrocketing. Schwer predicts that “progressively more and more nations will feel they need these kinds of systems as a first step to protect their critical infrastructure including airports, air bases and nuclear power plants.”
Cost-Effectiveness of Laser Technology
The budgetary costs of using high-energy laser weapons make a strong financial argument for their use. Schwer pointed out the stark contrast between the costs of drones and missiles: “A drone costs you $1,000, but a missile needed to kill that drone is $500,000.” Considering this gap, the deployment of laser technology seems both a strategic and economically beneficial move.
Each Patriot air defense system now costs about $1.5 billion and its ammunition further massively balloons per operation costs. Holding up the other end of the spectrum are EOS’s laser systems, which start at tens of millions of dollars. Schwer noted that if a customer buys a dozen units, the cost falls below $30 million per unit. This cost, per system fielded, is similar to the cost of a primary main battle tank.
These new lasers have the ability to kill five times as many targets per minute as traditional missiles or cannons. This remarkable capability adds to their already extraordinary cost-effectiveness. This rapid-fire capability is an immense benefit in situations where multiple threats appear at the same time.
Future Prospects and Global Interest
Interest in high-energy laser technology reaches even further than NATO nations. Schwer shared that Ukraine has been very interested to receive these cutting edge systems. This underscores their future use in conflict zones worldwide. “Ukrainians have asked us multiple times to give them laser weapons, and we expect to sell it further to clients across Europe, but in the Middle East and Far East Asia,” he stated.
As geopolitical tensions rise, adversaries like Russia and China aren’t sitting idly. Both countries are racing to build their own laser air defenses. The race for supremacy in this field has the potential to upend military doctrines around the world. Schwer added that the European continent is quite sensibly trying to improve its own capabilities to counter threats from adversaries such as Russia and China. He continued that devising new ways to blind or permanently disable such satellites from the ground is now an urgent priority. This is a concern that’s developing in importance very rapidly.
Schwer stressed the geopolitical importance of gaining mastery over aerial surveillance and communication. He claimed, “Whoever is able to first knock out and eliminate the satellite fleet of the adversary has won the war.”
