U.S. Is Reportedly Deploying Lasers To Beef Up Europe Air Defense; Russian Drones Probed For Targets
AFP
The U.S. has begun deploying laser weapon systems in Europe as a countermeasure to the increasing threat of potential drone strikes.
Stars and Stripes reported that the U.S. has deployed the Compact Laser Weapon System at various undisclosed locations around Europe. The report described the system as a directed-energy weapon that would be part of air defense.
“We have equipped and trained our personnel with enhanced systems, and installation commanders have the authority and responsibility to defend our forces,” stated U.S. Air Forces in Europe–Air Forces Africa Commander Lt. Gen. Jason Hinds.
The deployment was part of an effort to bolster air defenses in Europe against the threat that relatively cheap drones create. Stars and Stripes noted increasing incursions into European and NATO airspace by Russian drones since 2024.
Military officials believe that drone activity likely mapped vulnerabilities and probed for easy military and civilian targets. The laser system is not meant to be operating as a standalone weapons system, but rather as an integrated part of a layered defense architecture.
“The modern threat has erased the idea of a safe haven,” said Col. Victoria Habas, director for integrated air and missile defense planning and programs stated. “Inexpensive and highly adaptable (drone) technology can hold any installation or operating location at risk.”
The news of the laser weapon deployment comes amid a flurry of reports regarding depleted U.S. weapons stockpiles. CBS News reported this week that the U.S. had used almost all of its long-range precision missiles since the Iran war began on February 28.
According to the network, the U.S. now has limited amounts of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles. However, officials told CBS the biggest worry was interceptor missiles, such as Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missiles. Those weapons, crucial for air defense, have been used faster than military contractors can build them.
The report did not reference the concern regarding U.S. weapons stockpiles. Rather, the report said that the laser system would work in concert with existing weapons systems, helping to identify and distinguish hostile drones from friendly aircraft or even birds.
