If drones have been the hot thing of defense expos over the past year, shooting them down is the topic de jour.
Rafael has unveiled plans for a mobile version of its Iron Beam system that is designed to augment the Iron Dome counter-rocket, counter-uncrewed air system (C-UAS) system. The truck-mounted version is a 50-kW-class system that also can go after some ground targets, the manufacturer says.
Credit: Robert Wall
Why unveil one new laser-based C-UAS system when you can unveil two. Rafael also is showing a 10-kW-class offshoot of Iron Beam. The system can be used on wheeled or tracked fighting vehicles
Credit: Robert Wall
China is also in the business of using laser to shoot down drones at lower cost that can be done with kinetic interceptors. The country has been working on the Silent Hunter system it is increasingly pushing in international markets.
Credit: Robert Wall
MBDA for years has been working on laser-based C-UAS technologies and is now showing an option for its Sky Warden system to use a high-energy laser to down drones.
Credit: Robert Wall
Australia's EOS, which has a range of gun-based C-UAS systems, is also getting into the laser-based market. The company says it has power options from 36-100 kW, and offering engagement ranges of 200 meters to 3 km.
Credit: Robert Wall
It’s not just lasers that are putting drones in the crosshairs. Diehl, for instance, showed a high-power microwave system (left) to down drones as well as an interceptor system.
