ContentsLaser weapons: developments in different countriesEU's laser shieldUnexpected “players” in the laser fieldRussian lasers and prospects for UkraineThe publication Quiet Lasers Against Loud Drones: Not Today, But Maybe Tomorrow encouraged experts to continue researching Ukraine's potential to acquire or develop advanced weapons. Let's try to examine the essence of this trend and determine the extent to which we can talk about the widespread use of weapons based on new physical principles in future wars.First and foremost, the adoption of such weapons systems concerns powerful countries that have been conducting research and development for years. However, Ukraine has not been helpless in creating such systems.Laser weapons: developments in different countriesThe conversation about laser weapons should begin with a Forbes publication in June 2024, where the publication noted: after half a century of continuous failures, the Pentagon has likely succeeded in creating a combat laser that actually works. It was reported that the U.S. Army's laser had shot down a drone in combat conditions for the first time.At the same time, it seemed strange that the U.S. Army neither confirmed nor denied rumors about the successful use of its lasers against a drone in a real combat operation. Most likely, it was the M-SHORAD system with a range of up to 5 km for tactical drones, because this system is not only integrated into the modern American Stryker IFV, but also into a huge project to produce these combat vehicles in India. At the same time, India decided to replace more than 2,000 Russian-designed BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles with the latest generation of American Stryker armored personnel carriers precisely after the announcement of the effectiveness of the U.S. laser complex. It should be added that the U.S. currently has more than three dozen different programs for the creation of combat lasers. It should also be noted that the Pentagon has been unable to turn lasers into weapons for a very long time.However, there are now plans to equip certain weapon systems with lasers, which should indicate the initial success of this weapon. For example, in April 2025, it became known that American MQ-9B strategic drones would be armed with lasers: General Atomics announced the High Energy Laser Weapon System laser combat module with a power of up to 300 kilowatts to enable the MQ-9B to quickly shoot down drones. Special batteries will be installed on board the drone for this purpose - as is well known, one of the key problems with this type of weapon is ensuring a powerful power supply. But developers in the US are confident that using a drone with a laser system as an air defense weapon will be more effective than destroying enemy drones with expensive missiles. Moreover, the U.S. does not rule out the use of such a system in the future to shoot down cruise missiles.Almost simultaneously with the U.S., in March 2025, Britain's first decision was announced. The country's Ministry of Defense will strengthen the air defense of its surface fleet by integrating DragonFire laser systems. Britain is also confident in the effectiveness of the new weapon (this is the very weapon that London promised to transfer to Ukraine a year before the decision - it is possible that some of the technology ended up in Ukraine, as it is difficult to imagine that the British would resist the temptation to test the weapon in real warfare).In particular, it is mentioned that “laser weapons are capable of hitting a coin worth £1 from a distance of 1 km.” The weapon is called revolutionary, and its operating costs are expected to be lower than all existing systems. DragonFire, with a laser power of over 50 kW, demonstrated effective interception of a drone back in 2024; developers expect to be able to shoot down drones at a distance of 5 km.However, although the cost of a single shot from a laser system does not exceed £10, its overall cost is sky-high. This summer, it became known that two (out of four) DragonFire combat laser systems ordered by MBDA for Type 45 missile destroyers will cost £240 million (about $326 million). And the contract seems to be progressing more than slowly: from November 2025 to the end of March 2028. However, it is important to note that a ground-based DragonFire combat laser is also being developed, with an expected service life of 20 years. Also, in June 2025, Britain increased its funding for laser weapons, with the government allocating £1 billion.Indeed, not only the use of weapons in war, but also their adoption into the armed forces with subsequent purchases can reflect the state of affairs with achievements in their development. In this context, it is worth mentioning South Korea and Israel, which were obviously the first to purchase laser systems of their own production. In July 2024, the South Korean government signed an agreement to supply Block-I air defense laser systems, designed to accurately target small unmanned aerial vehicles and multicopters at close range. The $72.5 million agreement with Hanwha Aerospace provided for the delivery of an undisclosed number of 20 kW fiber laser systems to the country's armed forces by the end of 2024.As we can see, these are low-power complexes that are relatively inexpensive, and this step may well contain an element of advertising on the market. It is worth noting the fierce competition between South Korea and China for the Saudi Arabian market: in February 2024, South Korea announced a second contract worth $3.2 billion to supply an undisclosed number of Cheongung-II anti-aircraft missile systems, also known as KM-SAM Block II, to Saudi Arabia. But back in 2022, Saudi Arabia purchased the Silent Hunter laser system from China, designed to combat enemy drones. At the same time, at the end of October 2022, the first cases of combat use of the Chinese Silent Hunter took place — the Saudis shot down 13 Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze drones in several episodes, or 100% of the air targets that threatened energy infrastructure facilities.Among the publications about Silent Hunter, there are claims that this Chinese system has the power to literally burn through a 5 mm thick steel sheet at a distance of 1,000 meters. And to hit a Shahed-type UAV at a distance of up to 4 km from the target. The laser has an adjustable power range from 30 kW to 100 kW. On the one hand, China has overtaken the rest of the world, including the US and Britain, in the development of combat lasers. On the other hand, there is a real chain reaction in the acceleration of these developments. The aforementioned Korean company Hanwha Aerospace has been working on a laser system since 2019 and called the Block-I laser anti-aircraft system a “significant advance in defense capabilities.” Like the Americans and British, the Koreans assured that this laser system “could become an extremely important asset on the battlefield, capable of responding to aircraft and ballistic missiles.” At the same time, Block-I is capable of silently emitting a beam invisible to the human eye for 10-20 seconds, and the cost of such a “shot” is only $1.45.Another episode cannot go unnoticed. Namely, literally following Korea, in October 2024, Elbit Systems signed a contract worth approximately $200 million with the Israeli government to supply Iron Beam laser air defense systems. The 100 kW systems, with an effective range of hundreds of meters to several kilometers, can intercept even rocket artillery shells, mortar mines, and drones at a distance of up to several kilometers. Iron Beam has been in development for over 10 years and is expected to enter service with the army a year after the agreement is signed, i.e. at the end of October 2025. It is also known that $536 million has been invested in the production of laser systems. In Israel, this event was rather pompously called “the beginning of a new era on the battlefield — the laser era.” Another noteworthy detail: part of the $5.2 billion in financial aid from the US is being used to produce Iron Beam laser systems. Israel has particularly emphasized the extraordinary cost-effectiveness of these systems compared to traditional missile interception systems: the cost of an Iron Dome Tamir interceptor is $60,000, while that of an Iron Beam is only $5.To complete the list of successful laser system solutions, China deserves a special mention. In September 2024, China announced the creation of a new OW5-A50 anti-UAV laser system, which it offered to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt. Interestingly, representatives of the Chinese state defense corporation NORINCO immediately offered potential buyers the opportunity to purchase the new laser system, which may indicate confidence in their own leadership in the world. There is a separate detail regarding the OW5-A50 system: this laser installation is completely autonomous in terms of power sources, meaning that it does not need to be connected to an external power source to engage enemy drones. This provides the necessary flexibility for deployment in the field.In addition, in March 2024, scientists from Hunan University in China demonstrated the world's most powerful phonon laser, which, unlike a conventional laser, emits particles of sound (phonons) rather than light (photons). The new device uses a reflective resonator, a tiny bead, and an electrode to create a beam of sound particles that is 10 times more powerful and much narrower than other “phonon lasers.” A silicon bead about a micrometer long, the size of a typical bacterium, became the heart of the device.Finally, in August 2025, China effectively announced through state media its intention to combat Musk's SpaceX Starlink satellites using laser systems. This involves the use of powerful lasers, including those mounted on submarines. EU's laser shieldIt is obvious who is setting the trends in the development of laser technologies for future wars.However, it should be noted that with Trump's rise to power in the U.S. and the inevitable revision of defense programs in Europe, there has been a rethinking and acceleration of developments that were previously postponed or progressing too slowly.In light of new threats, the EU has embarked on the development of a laser shield, with Italy leading the way in creating a new air defense system for the continent. At the end of May 2025, Italy launched a project to create a European short-range laser air defense system, which is intended to be a unified solution for protection against drones and missiles and to strengthen the EU's defense capabilities as a whole.Specifically, Italy and Spain will develop a European laser air defense system - this Directed Energy Systems project has become one of 11 new joint EU defense initiatives under the name PESCO. It involves the creation of a modular directed energy weapon system on mobile platforms, which will operate at short (SHORAD) and very short (VSHORAD) ranges. It should be added that the Italian company Leonardo, which played a leading role in the development of the aforementioned British DragonFire system, has considerable experience and expertise. At the same time, these are still only developments, especially given the need to achieve laser power of up to 100 kilowatts on mobile platforms (something that China has already achieved).This is not the first European project to create an air defense system with integrated laser complexes. In particular, Germany's MBDA and Rheinmetall were awarded a contract in 2021 to develop a prototype combat laser for ships. At the time, it was announced that Germany intended to sell combat lasers for destroying surface kamikaze drones within five to six years. In September 2024, Rheinmetall issued a press release on a cooperation agreement with MBDA Deutschland to develop weapons such as laser systems for installation on ships. “Both companies are convinced that their skills complement each other in the field of laser weapon technologies and will enable them to successfully develop a military laser weapon system,” the company said in a statement. Rheinmetall claimed that testing of a demonstration model of a laser weapon from June 2022 to September 2023 aboard a Sachsen-class frigate of the German Navy achieved “impressive results” (more than a hundred shots were fired). At the same time, the facts show that “Europe's awakening” came late, and now the continent's leading players are trying to catch up with the leaders. On the other hand, Turkey has gained momentum – the country continues to test lasers against FPV drones, and in March 2025, ASELSAN's GÖKBERK mobile laser system destroyed various types of drones, including FPV drones, during testing. “GÖKBERK, which has previously proven its effectiveness against kamikaze drones, demonstrated its advanced capabilities by detecting, autonomously tracking, and destroying FPV drones in several test scenarios, demonstrating exceptional speed and accuracy in hitting targets,” the company said. During the tests, the laser system demonstrated its ability to destroy small quadcopter-type drones at a distance of 1,500 meters and aircraft-type drones at a distance of 1,200 meters. In addition, it demonstrated the ability to melt a 6-millimeter steel sheet at a distance of 600 meters. ASELSAN reported that in addition to drones, the laser can also neutralize improvised explosive devices and is equipped with the İHTAR electronic warfare system. To detect targets, it uses a small radar, an optoelectronic station with a daytime and thermal imaging channel, and an artificial intelligence-based target recognition system. Thanks to a powerful cooling system, the laser can operate continuously for a long time.Thus, 2025 marks a surge in the development of laser weapons and signals intensifying competition among the most powerful players.Unexpected “players” in the laser fieldThe idea of integrating weapons based on new physical principles into the military has captivated the world so much that even “unexpected players” — those who traditionally only purchased weapons — have joined the race. For example, in June 2025, Indonesia unveiled a new portable combat laser designed to target various drones, including FPV drones. It has a power range of 0.75 to 2 kilowatts and an operational range of 50 to 400 meters. Experts question its effectiveness, as hitting a target requires holding the laser beam on a single point for some time, which is difficult using an optical sight. Still, the fact remains: the world is moving toward laser weaponry — and it’s no longer a slow march, but a rapid sprint.Another example confirms this trend: in May 2025, Belarus tested the Russian-Belarusian anti-drone laser system Shafran. Images captured the flash of the laser hitting a quadcopter and the damaged drone falling. The system is being developed by Belarus’s NTC “LEMТ” in cooperation with Russian companies, reaching a power output of 30 kW. Back in 2023, LEMT and two Russian research institutes were already working on a 100 kW laser module for countering drones.Russian lasers and prospects for UkraineIn June 2025, it was confirmed that Russian invading forces had begun using laser weapons to counter Ukrainian drones. They have been employing this system since at least October 2024, successfully intercepting drones at distances over 1.3 kilometers.At the same time, “Russian developers continued to test and implement new counter-drone measures, such as combat lasers, tools for cutting fiber-optic cables, and the adaptation of electronic warfare (EW) systems,” according to an ISW report. On May 30, Russian “military bloggers” released footage of a Russian mobile unit using a laser air defense system to strike a steel plate, simulating the downing of Ukrainian drones. They themselves admitted (including the Russian outlet bmpd) that the laser system shown in the video was the Chinese low-altitude laser system known as the Low-Altitude Laser Defending System (LASS). Experts identified it as the previously mentioned Silent Hunter — a 30 kW laser mounted on an off-road vehicle, paired with radar and an optical station for detection, tracking, and targeting. At the very least, this case highlights the clear lag of Russia’s own defense industry in developing and deploying its own laser systems in the war.As for Ukraine, in February 2025, the Armed Forces’ Unmanned Systems Forces reported they were using laser technologies to strike aerial targets. At the time, the commander of the USF, Vadym Sukharevskyi, stated that Ukraine possesses laser technologies capable of hitting certain targets at specific altitudes already today.At the time, it was also reported that the domestic laser system had been developed by specialists within a few months. The emphasis on laser weaponry—especially amid complete silence from the new USF commander, Robert Brovdi—may indicate that some technologies were received from international partners, though successful national advancements cannot be ruled out. At the very least, significant progress was recorded in research conducted by one of the leading institutions of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and by a private enterprise.The story took a clear turn in April 2025, when the Unmanned Systems Forces unveiled a new domestically developed laser system called “Tryzub.” Footage of the tests was presented by USF Commander Vadym Sukharevskyi during the “European Defense Industry: Prospects for Cooperation with the Ukrainian Defense Sector” conference.The demonstration confirmed that Ukraine’s Armed Forces now possess modern laser weaponry capable of destroying strike drones, aerial bombs, cruise and ballistic missiles at distances of up to 3,000 meters, and helicopters, aircraft, and reconnaissance drones at up to 5,000 meters. Additionally, the laser can be used to blind drones, cruise missiles, helicopters, and aircraft at ranges up to 10 kilometers.Experts noted that although the system is equipped with an electro-optical targeting station, it was manually guided by an operator using a joystick rather than functioning in automatic mode — evidence that the system is still under development and being tested in real combat conditions. Specialists familiar with the technology say automation can be added later.“As of today, we can already shoot down aircraft at altitudes over 2 kilometers with this laser,” Sukharevskyi said at the time.In July 2025, the Ukrainian company Fulltime Robotics developed the SlimBeam laser system with a power output of 1.5 kW. According to the developers, SlimBeam is designed to neutralize drones and other aerial threats at distances of up to 1 km.Fulltime Robotics, active since 2018 and specializing in robotics, believes their lasers are already ready for battlefield deployment. This includes countering drones resistant to electronic warfare (EW). The company offers three modes of action: destroying drones, blinding their optical systems, and providing general coverage for mobile units and defensive positions.Well, the first results are in — now the task is to scale up laser systems and reach the same level of supply to the Armed Forces as with drones.This material was prepared in cooperation with the Defense Information Consortium (CDI), a project that unites Ukrainian analytical and research organizations aimed at strengthening informational support and analytical capacity in the fields of national security, defense, and geopolitics.