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The U.S. military is moving high-energy laser weapons closer to routine battlefield use, deploying directed-energy systems to counter drones and other aerial threats in the Strait of Hormuz. The development highlights a shift in modern air defense, where laser technology could offer a more cost-effective way to tackle inexpensive drones.
Some operators reportedly use modified Xbox-style controllers to aim and operate the systems, offering a familiar interface for precise targeting and rapid adjustments. The approach reflects an effort to make sophisticated weapons easier to operate, rather than requiring personnel to learn entirely new control layouts.
Unlike conventional missiles, high-energy laser weapons use concentrated beams of light to damage or disable targets. Sensors first detect and track an incoming threat before the system directs its beam toward a specific point. The laser must remain focused on that location for a period known as dwell time, allowing heat to accumulate and damage critical components.
Depending on the target and the weapon’s capabilities, the concentrated energy can disrupt sensors, damage electronics, or weaken structural components. This makes lasers particularly attractive for counter-drone operations, where disabling a relatively small aircraft may be sufficient to neutralize the threat without launching an expensive missile.
The technology has become more practical as electrical power systems, target-tracking sensors, beam control, and compact laser hardware have improved. The U.S. Army has also committed nearly $500 million to bring a new generation of high-energy laser weapons into production, signaling a move beyond laboratory experiments toward operational systems.
Jared Keller, author of the Laser Wars newsletter, described the technology as weaponized light that remains focused on a target for several seconds to destroy it. He also highlighted the Army’s major contract as a significant step toward fielding combat-ready laser weapons.
However, lasers are not expected to replace conventional weapons entirely. Their effectiveness depends on factors such as available power, atmospheric conditions, target characteristics, and the time required to maintain the beam on a target. Missiles, guns, electronic warfare, and directed-energy systems are therefore likely to operate alongside one another.
The growing use of laser weapons could ultimately change the economics of air defense, particularly when militaries face large numbers of low-cost drones.
