NATO Answer to Russian Drones

Russian Drones have been Swarming Ukraine in increasing numbers as Moscow Ramps-Up Production. Then, last week, more than a Dozen crossed the Border into Poland.

NATO scrambled Fighter Jets to Shoot them Down, but many Drones got through, including some that were made of Plywood and Foam. The fact that such Inexpensive Weapons evaded Multimillion-Dollar Air Defenses Highlights NATO’s Challenge in the New Era of Warfare.

This has NATO rushing to Rethink and Upgrade its Air Defenses. But the math is challenging: A Drone costs Hundreds to Tens of Thousands of dollars, and the Missiles that Defend against them, often Cost millions. Ukraine has Experimented with Nets, Cages, and Machine Guns mounted on Trucks, Helicopters, and Fighter Jets, to Counter the Threat, along with Anti-Done Drones.

Soon, NATO’s Militaries may have a New Solution: Lasers. A Growing number of Western Countries are Developing and Deploying Laser-based Weapons that could be Cheaper and more Efficient at Taking Down Drones than Missiles or Rockets. Some have already been used in War, by Israel and Ukraine.

An Australian company, Electro Optic Systems, has a Laser it says can Shoot Down 20 Drones a Minute, which has been Purchased by a European NATO Member. It will cost about $83 million for each System, including Training and Spare Parts, and will be Delivered by 2028.

After Installation, it is expected to take down Drones at a Cost of less than 10 cents per Shot. Nicknamed “Apollo” for the Greek God of Light, the 100-kilowatt Laser has about the same Level of Power as the Iron Beam system that Israel is Building.

More Lasers are in various Stages of Testing and use by the U.S. Military, which Spends about $1 billion per year, on Laser Weapons and is working to Develop a One-megawatt Weapon next year. At that Level-of-Power, Lasers could potentially Shoot down Ballistic Missiles and Hypersonic Weapons. A 100-kilowatt Laser is limited to Targeting Drones, Artillery, and Mortars.

Air Defenses have been in High Demand for years, particularly to Protect Targets in the Middle East, East Asia, and the U.S. The Advanced Drone Swarms in Ukraine and Ukraine’s Audacious Drone Assault Deep within Russia, are Showing other Countries that they are also Vulnerable. Their Counter Moves including Lasers and other Weapons, will Shape the Outcome of Today’s Wars, and Tomorrow’s.










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