Israel has unveiled a laser system capable of destroying more than 30 drones per minute
The Israeli company Esh-Tech has developed a new laser system called DroneLight, designed to counter drones. According to the manufacturer, the system is capable of destroying more than 30 drones per minute, while costing only about a quarter of the price of traditional laser systems.
The official presentation of the new product will take place at the Eurosatory 2026 international defense exhibition in Paris, which will be held from June 15 to 19.
The main feature of DroneLight is the use of short, 10-millisecond high-energy pulses that allow for the effective engagement of aerial targets. In terms of how it works, the system is compared to a weapon that fires five ultra-small “bullets” per second.
During testing, the technology was tested on more than 20 drones. Thanks to a pulse frequency of 5 Hz, the system takes approximately one to two seconds to destroy a single UAV.
DroneLight has a range of up to one kilometer, allowing the system to be used to protect facilities from drone attacks at close range.
Another important advantage is its low power consumption. According to the company, DroneLight requires about 4 kW of electricity, while conventional continuous-wave lasers consume over 20 kW.
Additionally, the system does not require the laser beam to be held on the target for an extended period. Thanks to this, the system can quickly switch between targets and effectively counter massive attacks and swarms of drones.
According to the developers, DroneLight is capable of neutralizing over 30 drones per minute, making it one of the most effective solutions in its class.
However, the system is not portable. The optical module weighs about 450 kg, and the auxiliary unit with supporting equipment weighs an additional 350 kg. The system can be integrated onto armored vehicles or other mobile platforms.
DroneLight is compatible with various types of target detection systems, including radars, acoustic sensors, and optoelectronic systems that provide guidance for targeting drones.
At the Eurosatory exhibition, the new product will be demonstrated both at the Esh-Tech booth and at the FFG exhibition, where the system will be mounted on a tracked armored vehicle.
Esh-Tech CEO Erez Riahi announced that the first system is scheduled to enter service as early as September 2026. According to him, the company has already received orders from several customers in various countries around the world.
The developers are placing particular emphasis on the cost of the new system. According to preliminary estimates, the price of DroneLight is about 25% of the cost of traditional continuous-wave laser systems, which could make the technology significantly more affordable for military customers.
Interest in laser weapons is rapidly growing amid the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East. Many countries are seeking effective and cheaper alternatives to expensive interceptor missiles to create modern short-range air defense systems.
This is reported by defenseromania.ro.
