Electro Optic Systems (EOS), an Australian defense company, has secured a major export order for a new 100-kilowatt class laser weapon system designed for counter-drone operations.
According to EOS, the €71.4 million (approximately A$125 million) contract was placed by an undisclosed European NATO member state and covers the delivery of the system, spare parts, training and documentation between 2025 and 2028.
The laser system is aimed at addressing the increasing threat posed by drone swarms, offering a non-kinetic alternative for engaging multiple targets at lower per-shot costs compared to traditional missile-based defenses. EOS claims the deal marks the first international export order for a laser weapon of this power class.
The company states that the laser has undergone three years of field testing and customer trials. It is equipped with a suite of supporting technologies, including tracking algorithms, radar, threat detection systems, target acquisition tools and beam-locking capabilities.
Lasers are increasingly being explored as a cost-effective response to the growing use of UAS in both military and non-state operations.
The new system will be produced at EOS’s facility in Singapore, which has been involved in the company’s directed-energy development program. The specific deployment plans or operational concepts for the laser system have not been disclosed.
The announcement follows increasing demand among NATO countries for advanced counter-UAS capabilities, especially in light of lessons learned from conflicts such as the ongoing war in Ukraine, where the increased use of fiber-optic drones has reduced the effectiveness of jamming.
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Post Image Credit: Electro Optic Systems
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