‘World’s cheapest shot’ laser zaps 50 drones a minute with 150kW beam

Electro Optic Systems (EOS), an Australian technology company, has unveiled "Apollo," a scalable high-energy laser weapon system designed to counter unmanned aerial systems (UAS), particularly small to medium-sized drones used for surveillance and attacks. The system, capable of delivering up to 150 kW of power, can destroy 20 to 50 drones per minute with rapid retargeting enabled by a high slew rate (less than 1.5 seconds for a 60-degree shift). Apollo operates continuously when connected to an external power source and can perform over 200 stored engagements when isolated. Packaged within a 20-foot ISO container for mobility and rapid deployment, it supports 360-degree coverage and can engage drones at ranges from 50 meters to 3 kilometers, while also disrupting sensors on larger drones up to 15 kilometers away. EOS emphasizes the cost-effectiveness of Apollo compared to traditional missile defenses, highlighting that laser shots cost significantly less than missiles priced around $200,000 each