Many countries are investigating the possibility to shoot down drones using lasers. Many military branches are trying to find a practical and viable way to combat this growing threat. In the last decade, private unmanned aerial vehicles has become more capable. They are both easy to use and inexpensive, making them an ideal target for civilians as well as the U.S. Military.
The United States Navy has conducted several tests of its laser weapon portfolio. The Laser Weapons System is designed to shoot down drones and disable ships. It will be permanently installed at the USS Ponce over the coming year. This weapon is more effective and cost-effective than conventional weapons and will be less harmful to people and the environment. It also can be used as a non-lethal deterrent. It can also perform battle damage assessment.
One of the most recent testing involved an electrical laser. The device was tested at a test site in New Mexico, and was used to disable a drone. The drone flew at speeds of 300 miles an hour. The laser effector, which uses high-precision track technology, concentrated energy into one laser beam. The laser was invisible to naked eyes and successfully disabled the drone.
A high-powered laser was also tested and was built to fit on a Cessna Grand Caravan. It was designed to destroy targets within one kilometer from the aircraft. The laser also was tested at a Germany test site. It was found to work well in disabling small drones. It was also effective in shooting down subsonic cruise missiles.
The laser effector used in the test was actually created by MBDA Deutschland (an aerospace and missile contractor). The company has designed several guided missile systems, and its high-energy laser was tested on a small drone. The laser successfully disabled the drone. This was its first demonstration of effectiveness. It was also effective in shooting down other UAVs. The laser effector is expected to be used on a variety of aircraft, and is expected to be fully functional three to four years from now.
Lockheed Martin is currently testing Layered Laser Defense (LLD), a system that can be used to shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles and drones. Six solid-state lasers of 32 kilowatts each are used in the system. This system is expected to be effective against a variety of targets, including fast attack boats, mortars, and other drones. It can also disable sensors, which is a feat that would be difficult with conventional weapons. The system has been designed to be fully electric, and it doesn't require dangerous propellants, making it safe to operate.
Many militaries are already testing different types laser weapons. The Israeli Defense Ministry has also recently tested a high-powered laser system. Although similar tests have been conducted in the US Navy's past, no chemical-based laser technologies were ever transferred to the fleet.