The US Army is reportedly close to signing a contract with defence firm AeroVironment for laser weapons designed to counter enemy drones, marking what officials describe as the most significant step yet in bringing directed-energy weapons out of the laboratory and onto the battlefield. Lasers have long been a Pentagon aspiration, offering the potential to destroy incoming drones and missiles at the speed of light and at a fraction of the cost of traditional missile interceptors, but the technology has faced years of delays and setbacks before reaching this stage.

According to defence analysts, including missile defence expert Tom Karako of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, laser systems are increasingly viewed as a practical complement to conventional air defences rather than a wholesale replacement for missiles. Their principal advantage lies in countering the growing threat posed by cheap, mass-produced drones, which are costly and impractical to intercept using expensive traditional munitions.