Image Courtesy: EOS
Australian firm Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has revealed its new high-energy laser weapon system, named Apollo, designed to neutralize drone threats quickly and affordably. The company has just secured what it says is the first-ever export contract for a 100 kW-class laser weapon—valued at about €71 million—from a European NATO member, as reported by Defense-Blog.
Apollo is scalable up to 150 kW and tailored to engage Group 1–3 unmanned aerial systems, covering a range of small to medium drones that pose the most immediate danger. EOS describes it as offering full 360-degree coverage – including vertical targeting – and boasting hard-kill capability out to around 3 km and sensor disruption out to 15 km. In containerized or vehicle-mounted form, it’s a mobile system that can be operational in under two hours, according to Janes.
One of Apollo’s standout features is its insane rate of fire. With external power, it can fire continuously; on internal storage alone, it can execute over 200 engagements. It retargets in under 1.5 seconds for a 60-degree shift and can shoot down between 20 and 50 drones per minute—making it what EOS calls the “world’s cheapest shot” in counter-drone warfare. This laser offers a dramatic cost advantage over traditional missiles – just cents per shot versus hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The export deal cements Apollo’s leap from prototype to battlefield reality. To deploy, operator forces will receive not only the weapon system itself, but also spare parts, training, and documentation. EOS plans to manufacture the system in Singapore between 2025 and 2028, as detailed in the Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter.
With nations facing increasingly sophisticated drone swarms, Apollo offers rapid, low-cost engagement—a capability that’s quickly becoming essential. As EOS brings this system to DSEI in London this week, the laser arms race is effectively taking off.