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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Conflict & Security

New Era of Warfare Begins: Lasers Become World's Go-To Anti-Drone Weapon

From Republika · (2d ago) Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The nature of warfare is evolving, with drones posing a significant threat due to their low cost and elusiveness.
  • High-energy laser systems are emerging as a key anti-drone technology, with several countries actively developing and deploying them.
  • Nations like the United States, Israel, China, the UK, and Turkey are investing in laser weaponry for defense, highlighting a new era in military technology.

A new era of warfare is dawning, one that is quieter and more insidious than ever before. The skies, once dominated by the roar of jets and the flash of missiles, are now increasingly threatened by small, agile, and difficult-to-detect drones. To counter this evolving threat, nations worldwide are turning to technologies once confined to the realm of science fiction: high-energy laser systems.

The United States is at the forefront, with recent agreements between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Defense paving the way for laser-based anti-drone systems along its southern border with Mexico. Despite initial concerns regarding safety in civilian airspace, the escalating threat of drones, including those used for illicit activities by cartels, has spurred authorities to seek faster and more efficient solutions.

Setelah melakukan Penilaian Risiko Keselamatan yang menyeluruh dan berdasarkan data, kami menentukan bahwa sistem ini tidak menimbulkan peningkatan risiko bagi masyarakat yang menggunakan jasa penerbangan.

— Bryan BedfordFAA Administrator Bryan Bedford explaining the safety assessment for laser anti-drone systems.

Laser technology offers a compelling advantage: it operates at the speed of light with minimal cost per shot, unlike expensive and limited missiles. As long as an energy source is available, these systems can repeatedly disable or destroy drones entering restricted areas. This efficiency is driving global adoption, with Israel's Iron Beam, China's Silent Hunter, the UK's DragonFire, and Turkey's ALKA all representing significant advancements in this field. These developments signal a clear shift from experimental projects to operational and commercial deployment of laser weaponry, fundamentally reshaping global defense strategies.

Biaya tembakan laser bisa jauh lebih murah dibandingkan peluncuran rudal konvensional.

— UK GovernmentThe UK government highlighting the cost-effectiveness of laser weapons compared to conventional missiles.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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