Just 10¢ a shot: EOS wins NATO deal for directed energy weapon to take out drones with a laser
August 7, 2025
For less than the cost of a text message, a drone can now be shot out of the sky, not by missiles or cannons, but by light.
That’s the promise behind a powerful new 100-kilowatt laser weapon developed by Electro Optic Systems (EOS), an Australian defence company.
In a world-first export deal, EOS has secured a €71.4 million ($83m) contract from a European NATO member state to supply a mobile, 100‑kilowatt laser weapon system for counter‑drone defence.
A directed energy weapon to take out a drone for just 10¢
Mounted on a truck, the EOS system integrates advanced algorithms, threat‑detection software, target‑acquisition technology and beam‑locking capabilities, and forms part of a multi‑layered air‑defence architecture .
Unlike traditional missile systems, which cost between $500,000 and $2 million per shot, EOS says its laser system costs less than 10 US cents to fire.
It’s capable of hitting up to 20 drones per minute at a range of up to 6km, and it can even fire directly upwards, something that conventional projectiles often can’t do.
Delivered between 2025 and 2028 and manufactured in Singapore, the system will include full production, spare parts, training and documentation
Drone warfare is rewriting the rules of modern conflict
While EOS has not named the customer country, the backdrop of the order is clear.
Drone warfare has become a defining element of modern conflict, especially in Ukraine, where low-cost drones have been used to destroy billions of dollars’ worth of Russian aircraft and infrastructure, often from thousands of miles away.
With drones becoming cheaper, faster, and more autonomous, defending against them is now a top priority for both state and non-state actors. Swarm attacks, where dozens or hundreds of drones descend on a single target, are no longer a theoretical threat.
Until now, counter-drone systems have largely relied on missiles, kinetic weapons, and jamming tools. But these are expensive, limited in ammunition, and often unsuitable for dealing with drone swarms, a growing threat in both military and civilian spaces.
This is where lasers come in. Their ability to engage multiple targets quickly, with minimal cost per shot, makes them ideal for protecting critical infrastructure like military bases, power stations, oil refineries, and cities.
Because the weapon is silent, electrically powered, and doesn’t need reloading, it can remain in action far longer than traditional systems, a critical factor in swarm defence scenarios.
EOS says the system is designed to fit into multi-layered air defence strategies, complementing its existing ‘Slinger’ cannon system, as well as rockets and longer-range missiles.
“In a world of geopolitical uncertainty and ongoing regional tensions, the ability to swiftly and accurately detect, track and defeat drones is paramount,” says Dr Andreas Schwer, CEO of EOS.
Directed energy weapons: The next military frontier
This development comes amid rising investment and experimentation in directed‑energy weapons by several nations. In the UK, the DragonFire system – a high‑energy laser developed by industry and government partners – is expected to enter service with the Royal Navy from 2027. It reportedly costs just £10 per shot and achieved highly accurate targeting during trials .
Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems has also progressed its Iron Beam laser system toward deployment by late 2025. Iron Beam is capable of intercepting drones, rockets and mortar rounds and incurs only a few dollars of direct cost per shot, although deployment costs remain substantial .
Other systems, such as the US Navy’s HELIOS and AN/SEQ‑3, have demonstrated drone engagement capabilities and low per‑shot costs, albeit primarily in naval environments .
This €71.4 million deal represents a landmark moment for directed‑energy weapons. It demonstrates that laser‑based counter‑drone systems have moved from experimental to operational, offering militaries an efficient and agile layer of defence in an era of rapidly evolving aerial threats.
