Laser weapons show promise against rising drone threats

As Russia unleashes relentless drone swarms on Ukraine and is suspected of incursions in Poland and Romania, the imbalance between cheap drones and billion-dollar air defense systems has placed a heavy burden on militaries scrambling to defend their skies.

Attention is now turning to laser systems, which promise a striking economic advantage. The EU, Ukraine, Australia and China have invested heavily in the technology, while Israel has already announced the deployment of Iron Beam, a high-energy laser weapon system.