Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has debuted its new its new high-energy laser weapon dubbed “Apollo,” at the DSEI event in London last week.
The Canberra-based company said Apollo is scalable up to 150 kilowatts and designed to counter small and medium-sized drones. EOS describes the system as capable of destroying between 20 and 50 drones per minute, with a rapid retargeting rate and the ability to sustain engagements when connected to an external power source.
The launch follows an August contract with an undisclosed European NATO member for the export of a 100-kilowatt-class laser weapon. EOS said the deal marked the first international sale of a system in that power range, a milestone for both the company and the wider directed energy sector.
Apollo is packaged in a 20-foot ISO container for mobility and can reportedly be deployed in under two hours. EOS states the system can engage drones within a 3-kilometer range and disrupt sensors on larger platforms at distances of up to 15 kilometers. It is designed to integrate into NATO command-and-control and air defense networks or operate as a stand-alone platform.
EOS has been working on directed energy systems for more than four decades, moving from non-lethal dazzlers to higher-powered lasers. Apollo represents the next stage in that development, following the company’s introduction last year of a lower-power laser system for drone sensor disruption.
Dr. Andreas Schwer, EOS Group CEO, said the system is intended to address the growing challenge posed by drones in modern conflicts. He added that the platform is fully controlled by EOS and does not fall under U.S. export restrictions.
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Post Image Credit: Electro Optic Systems
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