# Military development and testing of laser drone technology

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/military-development-of-laser-technology-for-drones
> Updated: 2026-08-25T02:09:09.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 3.

Military interest in laser technology has expanded from defensive applications to offensive and logistical support. Initially, focus centered on the economic advantages of using high-energy lasers for drone defense, providing a cost-effective alternative to expensive interceptor missiles. Nations including the United States, Israel, France, and Ukraine have pursued these systems to mitigate the costs of combating low-cost drones.

Recent developments highlight a shift toward mass production and operational testing. The U.S. Army has signed a $400 million contract for the Locust laser system, which utilizes artificial intelligence for drone tracking. Meanwhile, Israel’s Iron Beam and France’s ELMA MAP are undergoing final infrastructure defense testing, and Ukraine is developing domestic prototypes to counter drone swarms. To further evaluate reliability, the U.S. Army is preparing a year-long operational test of both high-energy lasers and high-power microwave systems to assess combat effectiveness, maintenance, and logistical requirements in real-world conditions.

Technological progress also includes drone power management. The U.S. Department of Defense successfully tested a ground-based laser system capable of delivering 1 kilowatt of power to recharge combat drones midflight via photovoltaic receivers. However, these advancements have raised significant safety concerns regarding civilian airspace. Incidents such as faulty collision alerts near commercial airports and the unintended targeting of party balloons by U.S. Customs and Border Protection have prompted the FAA to temporarily close airspace to protect passenger aircraft.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-25: US Army to test laser and microwave weapons against drones

The US Army will conduct a year-long pilot project testing high-energy lasers and high-power microwaves to neutralize enemy drones in real-world military environments.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-army-to-test-laser-and-microwave-weapons-against-drones

### 2026-08-09: US Department of Defense tests midflight drone laser recharging

The US Department of Defense is testing laser systems to recharge drones midflight, though military testing of such technologies has caused airspace disruptions and coordination issues with the FAA.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-department-of-defense-tests-midflight-drone-laser-recharging

### 2026-08-08: Laser technology emerges as cost-effective solution for drone defense

Military forces are adopting high-energy laser systems to combat drones, offering a low-cost alternative to expensive interceptor missiles and solving logistical ammunition shortages.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/laser-technology-emerges-as-cost-effective-solution-for-drone-defense

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Cite as: Military development and testing of laser drone technology. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/military-development-of-laser-technology-for-drones