The new navy laser is being developed by the German company Rheinmetall and the European MBDA Missile Systems.
It will use focused light to disable hostile drones at a much lower cost than launching missiles at air-to-air targets. If the system can replicate the missile’s success, it would be a major move to reduce the cost of NATO’s fleet.
A German Navy frigate equipped with a prototype of a new laser weapon was recently used in a weapons demonstration. According to Rheinmetall, that demonstration was an unmitigated success proving that the system is accurate and efficient enough in combat situations.
Even if it has been successfully demonstrated, the final version of the system is expected to take another five to six years to develop.