The laser weapons race enters its industrial era

Countries around the world are rapidly deploying laser weapons for air defense and counter-drone operations. The real challenge now is producing enough systems to withstand modern saturation attacks.

Rafael Lite Beam, Iron Beam -M (250) and Iron Beam (450) High Energy Laser Weapon Systems (HELWS) are displayed during the Security Equipment International (DSEI) at London Excel on September 10, 2025 in London, England. [Photo by John Keeble/Getty Images]

This article is republished with permission from Laser Wars, a newsletter about military laser weapons and other futuristic defense technology.

On April 30, the Financial Times reported Israel had sent a version of its 100 KW Iron Beam high-energy laser weapon to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to help Abu Dhabi fend off hundreds of missiles and drones fired by Iran since the beginning of the U.S. military’s Operation Epic Fury.........

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