Ray Guns Are Real Now. They Could Swat Drones for a Few Bucks.

South Korea, Israel, Britain and the U.S. Army have fielded or ordered laser air defenses; the Army just named Leonardo DRS to power and cool its 30-kilowatt truck laser. Per-shot costs are company and government claims.

TL;DR

Ray guns have left the comic books. Four countries have now bought or fielded lasers that knock drones out of the sky; the newest step came on Nov. 2, when Leonardo DRS said it will supply the power, cooling and vehicle fit for the U.S. Army's first production laser weapon, AeroVironment's 30-kilowatt LOCUST X3. South Korea has had laser units guarding key sites since late 2024, Israel took delivery of its first Iron Beam in December 2025, and Britain has ordered its DragonFire laser for destroyers starting in 2027. For people living under the threat of cheap drones, the hope is a reusable shield over bases, ships and cities that fires for a few dollars or pounds a shot, by company and government claims, where an interceptor missile can cost hundreds of thousands. Our odds that the Army's first counter-drone laser is combat-ready by 2028 are 75%. For the full odds on each country's laser and the timeline of breakthroughs that takes these shields into everyday use, subscribe.

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