MQ-9 Reaper Tests New Rocket Capability Against Airborne Targets
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and the US Air Force have pushed the MQ-9 Reaper drone deeper into the precision-strike role with successful tests involving APKWS laser-guided rockets.
US Navy Opens Laser Weapons Course for Sailors
The US Navy has launched a new training program for sailors operating laser weapons at its Directed Energy Systems Integration Laboratory in California.
India’s New Laser Weapon Raises the Stakes: 300kW
A new 300-kilowatt directed-energy weapon under development in India is designed to neutralize emerging threats at distances of up to 20 kilometers.
New ‘HADES’ Laser System From US Firm Delivers 70kW Firepower
US firm nLIGHT is working to counter emerging airborne threats in contested environments with HADES, a new high-energy laser system designed to deliver 70 kilowatts of power.
US Firms Advance Laser Counter-Drone System to Prototype Stage
A collaboration between two US companies has reached the prototype stage with a new laser-based counter-drone system designed to function with or without a human operator.
CUSV Reinvented: Textron Equips Its Naval Drone With ‘BRAWL’ Air Defense System
Textron Systems has turned its Common Unmanned Surface Vessel into a far more dangerous presence at sea, adding a new air defense capability designed to hunt down airborne threats.
AV LOCUST Laser Zaps Drones in USS George H.W. Bush Live-Fire Test
AeroVironment has demonstrated the counter-drone capabilities of its LOCUST laser weapon system aboard the US Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush in a live-fire test.
Elbit Develops Airborne Laser Weapon for Helicopters and Fighter Jets
Israel is bringing directed-energy weapons into the air, with Elbit Systems developing high-powered lasers for military aircraft under a new defense contract.
America’s Microwave Weapon Now Paired With Self-Driving Truck for Drone Defense
Epirus, General Dynamics Land Systems, and Kodiak AI are bringing autonomy and high-power microwave effects together in a mobile system designed to counter evolving drone threats.
‘$5-Per-Shot’: AeroVironment Debuts New AI-Enabled Laser to Shred Drones
AeroVironment is pushing deeper into anti-drone defense with a new ‘$5-per-shot’ laser weapon built to burn down airborne threats in contested environments.
US Taps Cambium for Aircraft Laser Protection Technology
California-based Cambium has secured a contract to expand its laser and directed-energy protection technology for the US government.
US Introduces Rifle-Mounted Laser Weapon to Shut Down Drones
A new chapter in counter-drone defense begins as Nuburu’s Lyocon subsidiary completes initial trials of a next-gen, portable non-kinetic laser system built to hunt drones in contested airspace.
Israel Rolls Out ‘Sting Lumina’: Tactical Laser Pointer for Close Combat, Covert Ops
Soldiers navigating tight, low-light environments now have a new tool for quick, precise target engagement.
Ukraine Introduces ‘Sunray’: A Silent Laser Weapon Against Aerial Drones
Ukraine is turning to a new, low-cost weapon in its fight against aerial drones: a silent laser system known as “Sunray.”
India Develops ‘World’s Most Compact’ AI-Driven Laser Sniper Mounted on UGV
India is sharpening its toolkit for future warfare with the rollout of the “world’s most compact” AI-powered laser sniper, mounted on a nimble unmanned ground vehicle.
Australian Firm Unveils Laser Weapons Plant in Singapore
Electro Optic Systems has inaugurated a new center in Singapore to build high-energy laser weapon systems, establishing a regional hub to support international defense customers.
Next-Gen Laser Defense Goes ‘Mini’: IPG Presents Crossbow
A US tech company is positioning a compact, high-energy laser system as a cost-conscious solution against increasingly sophisticated drone swarms.
QinetiQ Advances Royal Navy DragonFire Laser in $78M Deal
MBDA, the prime contractor of the Royal Navy’s DragonFire laser weapon, has awarded industry partner QinetiQ a $78-million contract to continue work on the system’s laser source.
Rheinmetall, MBDA to Form Joint Venture for Laser Weapons in Q1 2026
German arms manufacturers Rheinmetall and MBDA Deutschland are eyeing a joint venture in the first quarter of 2026 to develop laser weapons.
Rafael Ships First Operational Iron Beam Laser Weapon to Israel
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has delivered the first Iron Beam air defense system to the Israel Defense Forces, following the transfer’s confirmation in early December.
Seven Laser Weapons That Defined the Defense Landscape in 2025
Seven laser systems in 2025 proved directed-energy is here to stay, transforming air and maritime defense with speed, precision, and near-unlimited firepower.
US Army Receives More LOCUST Laser Weapons From AeroVironment
AeroVironment has delivered two additional LOCUST laser weapon systems to the US Army as part of the service’s Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser initiative.
EOS Expands Export Footprint With $80M S. Korea Laser Weapon Deal
Australian firm Electro Optic Systems has signed a binding conditional agreement worth $80 million to manufacture and supply its flagship 100-kilowatt high-energy laser weapon for a customer in South Korea.
Japan Activates 100-kW Fiber Laser for Live Sea Trials
Fiber laser is a 100-kilowatt-class high-energy weapon, combining ten 10-kW fiber lasers into a single beam, housed in two 40-foot container modules, and equipped with a dome-shaped turret.
