A remarkable technology was showcased at the Sea Air Space 2025 Expo. General Atomics introduced the groundbreaking laser defense system it has integrated into the MQ-9B unmanned aerial vehicle. With a potential to scale up to 300 kW in the future, this 25 kW-class laser pod is considered an innovation that could fundamentally change the US Navy’s fleet defense strategies.
The system was designed specifically for harsh operational environments. It features an effective air cooling mechanism thanks to a prominent ram-air intake, while an ultra-high-power battery module meets its energy needs. According to General Atomics, this integrated system provides significant reductions in size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements, allowing the system to be seamlessly integrated into high-performance air platforms.
Laser System Destroys Kamikaze UAVs
According to information from Interesting Engineering from the fair, the MQ-9B UAV was shown to have successfully neutralized Shahed kamikaze UAVs in the air with this new laser system in operational simulations. This capability means that it can provide an effective defense solution, especially against the recent increase in low-cost, large number of UAV and FPV (First Person View) drone attacks. The laser system's cost-effective and rapid reaction capability against such threats can provide a significant advantage in fleet defense.
Experience in Stabilizing Narrow Laser Beams
General Atomics has significant experience in stabilizing precise narrow laser beams for unmanned aerial platforms. This expertise was previously successfully demonstrated with the Laser Airborne Communication (LAC)-12 Terminal. The LAC-12 system can reliably transmit and receive laser-based communications over long distances. The system was announced to the public in 2022 with successful results in tests conducted between two different aircraft. This experience increases expectations that the newly developed laser defense system will have a high accuracy rate in target tracking and destruction. General Atomics’ success in the field of communications provides a solid foundation for the development and application of defensive laser systems.
