Laser weapons are a common trope of science fiction novels, movies, and video games, but practical military applications of lasers have remained elusive. However, recent advances in materials science, optics, and computing have made weapons that shoot concentrated beams of energy at the speed of light a realistic possibility, prompting a new global arms race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rapid development of laser weapons is likely to have significant implications for future conflicts and global security. While these weapons offer some notable advantages over conventional weapons, they also face numerous technical hurdles, such as weather susceptibility and power requirements. What does this mean for the adoption of laser weapons? Are they the weapons of the future?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Humanity\u2019s propensity for warfare has been a constant thread throughout our history. The only thing that has changed over that time is the weapons we use to fight with one another, gradually evolving from rudimentary tools like sticks and stones to more sophisticated implements like swords and bows. The invention of gunpowder marked a significant leap forward, facilitating the development of increasingly powerful firearms, bombs, and missiles. This trend towards ever-more destructive weaponry culminated in the Manhattan Project, and the invention of nuclear bombs capable of levelling an entire city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each advancement has not only changed the face of warfare but also had profound societal and geopolitical implications. The same is likely to be true for the next chapter in this ongoing arms race: laser weapons. Long confined to the realm of science fiction, laser weapons are inching closer and closer to reality as a result of technological advances that have allowed them to transition from the pages of novels to military testing grounds. Let\u2019s take a closer look at the current state of laser weapons and explore their potential impact on the future of warfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recent technological advances have made laser weapons operational, despite earlier limitations.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ever since the laser was first invented back in 1960, military leaders around the world have been trying to find military applications for the technology. These efforts manifested<\/a> in several highly ambitious projects, the most notable of which was the Strategic Defense Initiative in the 1980s. Often derisively referred to as the \u2018Star Wars programme\u2019, the project aimed to develop space-based laser weapons that could take out Soviet ballistic missiles before they reached US soil. After ten years of development and some US$30 billion in spending, the project was officially shut down in 1993 without delivering on its promise. It was followed by another high-profile failure, the US$5 billion Airborne Laser programme, which was abandoned in 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It has only been in recent years that advances in the fields of materials science, optics, and computer technology have made \u2018directed energy weapons\u2019 – a moniker for laser weaponry – feasible. Today, there are<\/a> 31 laser weapons programmes in various stages of development at the Pentagon alone, with a combined annual budget of US$1 billion. This renewed focus was motivated, in part, by increasing drone and missile attacks on US soldiers in Iraq, Syria, and the Red Sea. According to<\/a> the Pentagon, drone and missile attacks have resulted in a total of 186 casualties among US troops across the Middle East between October 2023 and February 2024, prompting renewed calls for the development of weapons capable of neutralising such threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But how exactly does a laser weapon function? Essentially, a laser works by converting<\/a> electricity into a stream of light particles called photons. Once these photons pass through a beam director, they are narrowed into a steady beam that causes<\/a> intense heat in the targeted area. With sufficient power, a laser can burn through various materials, including metal. Laser weapons represent<\/a> a significantly cheaper alternative to missiles. They operate without ammunition, reach their targets at the speed of light, and are virtually silent. The use of a laser costs between $1-10 per activation, while missiles can cost millions each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Putting them to use has, however, proven challenging. The biggest limitation of laser weapons is that they are susceptible to weather conditions. Rain, sand, dust, smoke, and even air turbulence can all defocus a laser beam, reducing its precision. Another issue is that laser weapons are incredibly power-hungry, requiring tens or hundreds of kilowatts (kW) of power to engage targets at safe distances. This means that any military platform a laser weapon is installed on requires not only extensive power generation capabilities but also a robust cooling infrastructure to manage the tremendous amount of waste heat generated. Furthermore, laser weapons often require<\/a> specialised tools, materials, and facilities for repairs, which may not be readily available on the battlefield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Militaries worldwide are developing and testing laser weapons for defence purposes, particularly for neutralising drones.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The United States has led the way with the development of laser weapons, some of which have already been deployed in the field. One example is the Palletised High-Energy Laser (P-HEL), which was delivered<\/a> to US troops in the Middle East earlier this year. Militaries worldwide are developing and testing laser weapons for defence purposes, particularly for neutralising drones. Operated with an Xbox gaming controller, P-HEL uses a 20 kW laser beam to melt<\/a> the drone\u2019s wings or motors and shoot it out of the sky. The US Army has also deployed<\/a> four Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) prototypes, which feature a 50 kW laser mounted onto a Stryker armoured troop carrier, to Iraq for real-world testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the near future, the US Army could get its hands on its most powerful laser weapon yet: the 300 kW Valkyrie. Developed<\/a> by Lockheed Martin, Valkyrie will be able to engage a wider range of threats than previous generations of laser weaponry. Its unprecedented power could even render it capable of neutralising cruise missiles. Of course, it\u2019s not just land troops who are in need of protection. The US Navy has also integrated laser weapons into several warships, including the USS Preble, which was equipped<\/a> in 2022 with a High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS). This multi-purpose system is capable of destroying drones and smaller boats, as well as disrupting<\/a> optical sensors on enemy warships and aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other countries are also currently working<\/a> on their own laser weapons projects, including the UK, Israel, Russia, China, France, India, and Turkey. The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), a research lab funded by the UK Ministry of Defence, revealed<\/a> in late 2022 that it had conducted a series of live-fire tests of its new high-energy laser weapon named DragonFire. The 50 kW weapon system was tasked with targeting a small drone and various metal targets designed to mimic the characteristics of ship and aircraft hulls at a distance of up to 3.4 kilometres. According to DSTL officials, DragonFire remained operational during tests, even in rainy conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, Israeli defence technology company Rafael announced in March 2022 that it had completed<\/a> the latest batch of live-fire tests of Iron Beam, its new 100 kW laser weapon. Once it\u2019s ready for field deployment, which the company estimates could happen in about two years, Iron Beam will be integrated into the Iron Dome, which was also developed by Rafael. This will add a more economically efficient weapon to the Iron Dome\u2019s arsenal of kinetic interceptors, allowing it to choose the most suitable option based on the type of incoming threat and current weather conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nInvisible beams as defence arsenal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n