According to a report, the US military has installed advanced laser weapons in the Middle East, including the Strait of Hormuz. Military personnel are operating the systems with modified Xbox gaming controllers.
The laser weapons can destroy drones and incoming cruise missiles. US defence officials reportedly said the systems can destroy targets at a lower cost than conventional missiles. The powerful electrically generated laser beam focuses on a target and heats it until the drone or other object is disabled or destroyed.
Defence technology expert Mark Neese said lasers can target drones with extreme precision. The beam can be focused on a specific part of a drone to disable its sensors or destroy the entire aircraft.
Reports say the “High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance” system installed in the Middle East uses a 60-kilowatt laser. Due to its size and weight, the system has been installed on warships.
The technology is also reportedly being used against drones along the US-Mexico border, although experts say it has not yet been used against human targets.
According to a New York Post report, the US has been working on the technology for around 50 years, with approximately $500 million being spent on the project. Boeing has also developed a smaller laser system capable of targeting Class 3 drones.
The system is currently too large and heavy to be carried by soldiers in backpacks. Clear skies are required for effective performance, while its capability may be limited during attacks involving large numbers of drones.
