Australia is set to enhance NATO's defense capabilities with a new laser system designed to combat enemy drones. The high-powered laser, named Apollo, can destroy up to 20 drones per minute at a cost of just $1 per shot. This technology is seen as a potential game-changer in modern warfare, especially in light of recent drone incursions by Russia into European airspace.

Electric Optic Systems (EOS), the company behind Apollo, confirmed that a Western European NATO country has purchased the laser to strengthen its air defense. Andreas Schwer, the CEO of EOS, highlighted the economic implications of drone warfare, stating, "A drone costs you $1,000, but a missile needed to kill that drone is $500,000." He emphasized that the conflict has shifted towards finding more cost-effective solutions for defense.

The Apollo laser operates through a process called "thermal destruction," where it uses electricity to heat light particles that can burn through a drone's structure, causing it to melt, ignite, or explode. However, the technology does have limitations. Factors such as humidity, rain, fog, and dust can affect its accuracy, and its range is not as extensive as traditional weapons. Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at a defense think tank, noted that while the technology may evoke images of science fiction, it does not operate as dramatically as depicted in movies. He explained, "Rather than vaporizing its target immediately, the laser causes damage and starts to burn."

The urgency for such technology has increased due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where Russia has launched numerous drone attacks. NATO members are concerned that these actions could lead to direct confrontations. Bronk remarked, "The sheer scale of both battlefield drone use and one-way attack drones used by Russia and Ukraine has made this technology particularly urgent."

A NATO spokesperson stated that the alliance is continuously exploring innovations to enhance security, including new methods for defending against drones. Schwer pointed out that Western nations are realizing the unsustainable cost of providing expensive missiles to Ukraine, which is depleting its inventory. The U.S.-made Patriot air defense system, currently in use in Ukraine, costs over $1 billion and employs million-dollar missiles for each strike.

In contrast, the Apollo laser can engage up to 20 drones per minute at a range of 6 kilometers and can fire directly upwards, a capability that traditional weapons often lack. Schwer noted that more nations will likely seek such systems to protect critical infrastructure, including airports and nuclear power plants.

Countries like Russia, China, the UK, Germany, and the U.S. are also developing their own laser air defense systems. The Apollo is being compared to Israel's Iron Beam laser, which is designed to work alongside the Iron Dome missile shield to intercept smaller threats. Analysts believe the Australian system matches the Iron Beam in power.

The Apollo laser system is expected to be delivered to the unnamed NATO country within the next 18 months, with costs estimated in the tens of millions of dollars per unit. EOS has been developing laser weapons since the 1980s and is now the only company outside the U.S. capable of creating lasers that can destroy objects in space, including satellites.

Schwer emphasized the strategic importance of this technology, stating, "How can we blind or even disable those satellites permanently from the ground is something that is becoming extremely important." He added that the ability to eliminate an enemy's satellite fleet could determine the outcome of future conflicts, reverting warfare to more traditional methods.