War at the Speed of Light: Why Is the U.S. Seeking Laser Weapons?

The United States is intensifying efforts to develop laser weapons capable of countering drones at low cost, as international competition accelerates over directed energy technologies, according to The Times.

This shift comes after the U.S. military began using the "Lokist" laser system in Texas, where it successfully downed drones that the military said posed a threat to American forces and U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel.

The use of lasers marks a significant shift in the nature of modern warfare, as these weapons can destroy aerial targets without launching expensive missiles, making them an attractive option for countering the growing proliferation of drones.

Directed Energy

The U.S. Department of Defense is spending nearly $1 billion this year on developing a range of "directed energy" systems, following more than two decades of research into technologies capable of turning laser beams into effective field weapons.

The U.S. has deployed the Lokist system to Texas to arm the Joint Task Force on the southern border, which includes around 8,000 personnel, with a multi-use high-energy laser system.

American company AeroVironment developed the system, which is mounted on a vehicle and can fire a 20-kilowatt laser beam capable of burning through and penetrating targets, with the company marketing the weapon as able to "neutralize threats at the speed of light."

At the same time, the U.S. Marine Corps has expanded use of the same system to counter small drones, and it has been installed on the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, which underwent successful sea trials last year.

The U.S. interest in lasers is primarily driven by economic factors: intercepting a drone with a sophisticated missile could cost millions of dollars, while firing a laser beam may cost just a few dollars.

Thus, U.S. forces could theoretically counter a heavily armed drone worth about $30,000 without depleting their stockpile of expensive missiles such as the Patriot system or the Standard SM-3 missile.

Multiple Nations

This race is not limited to the United States, as several countries are developing directed energy weapons amid rising military reliance on drones, missiles, and unmanned systems.

Britain has developed the "Dragon Fire" laser weapon, which will be deployable on Royal Navy ships in the coming years, while China has deployed a truck-mounted laser system and is also developing laser weapons for amphibious vessels.

Russia has tested a portable laser weapon against drones under combat conditions, while Israel possesses the "Iron Beam" system with a capacity up to 100 kilowatts, which it has used against drones launched from Lebanon.

In light of this, the Pentagon aims to develop even more powerful weapons beyond those designed solely for small drones, enabling them to engage cruise missiles, large drones, and anti-ship missiles.

The Sky program is working on laser systems ranging from 150 to 500 kilowatts, while U.S. Navy officials have floated the idea of eventually achieving a one-megawatt weapon.

However, these ambitions face technical and natural challenges, particularly weather conditions, as fog, mist, and dust can obstruct laser beam transmission and affect targeting accuracy.

Mark Cancian, a strategist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, explained that this issue is tied to "fundamental physics," noting that atmospheric conditions can physically interfere with the beam and limit weapon effectiveness.

Energy supply also remains a challenge, especially when deploying these weapons on ships, as powerful systems require substantial energy to maintain beam stability and precise targeting over extended periods.

Conversely, the military’s task may be relatively easier when facing small drones, as the target can be destroyed in a short window, whereas engaging larger missiles requires sustained tracking and high precision over longer durations.

Star Wars

This development brings to mind President Ronald Reagan’s 1983 "Star Wars" initiative, which called for creating a defense system capable of intercepting Soviet nuclear missiles using advanced technologies, including lasers.

However, the project faced enormous costs that prevented its realization, before President Donald Trump revived part of the idea through the "Golden Dome" missile defense project for the United States.

Estimates for the "Golden Dome" project range from $185 billion over ten years, according to the Pentagon, to one trillion dollars, according to the Congressional Budget Office—reflecting the vast scale of U.S. defense ambitions in this domain.

Thus, laser weapons now face a real test of transitioning from laboratories and experimental projects to actual battlefields, especially as demand grows for low-cost defenses against swarms of drones and advanced weaponry.

Although lasers may offer an economical and rapid solution, their effectiveness will remain tied to their ability to overcome weather, power, and tracking challenges—factors that could ultimately determine the future of this technology in upcoming conflicts.