Japan Laser Weapons: Sea Trials & Global Arms Race

Competition to equip ‘laser weapons’ on naval ships around the world is heating up. On the 19th (local time), science media Live Science reported that Japan will deploy a system that fires a laser beam with 100 kilowatt (kW) energy and begin launch tests next year. The Defense Equipment Agency (ATLA) under the Japanese Ministry of Defense has installed this laser system on the JS Asuka, a 6,200-ton experimental ship. It will soon be sent to sea, and will verify its ability to intercept drones and mortar shells through full-scale sea trials after February 27 next year.

Previously, Japan began developing Rage weapons in earnest in 2018, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries delivered a prototype to ATLA in February 2023. This laser weapon combines 10 lasers (each with an output of 10 kW) to create a single beam of 100 kW, which is said to have a focusing power strong enough to melt metal surfaces. However, there are many obstacles to overcome before it can be deployed in practice. This is because directed energy systems that hit targets with highly concentrated energy take a lot of time to recharge between launches and require significant cooling and power.

Laser weapons, which can be seen in science fiction movies, have a higher cost of introduction compared to conventional weapons, but are very cheap to launch, have only electric power, and can fire almost infinitely. Many countries around the world are developing weapons, and Israel in particular will soon deploy the laser beam air defense interception system ‘Iron Beam’ on the field. Iron Beam, which has been developed by Israeli defense companies Rafael and Elbit Systems for more than 10 years, is a cutting-edge high-power laser air defense system for intercepting missiles, rockets, and drones.

Israel is already deploying a net-like defense network with the ‘Iron Dome’, but Iron Beam has a major advantage that sets it apart from this. It’s ‘insane’ cost-effectiveness. Since Iron Dome is missile-based, the cost of one launch is tens to hundreds of millions of won, but Iron Beam costs only about 5,000 won, realizing the concept of ‘electricity is ammunition.’

In this way, deployment of laser weapons on land has become a reality, but the next testing ground is the sea. Currently, the US Navy is testing the ‘HELIOS’ laser weapon mounted on the destroyer USS Preble. Helios, which has an output of 60kW, has already been successfully tested to hit a drone.

The UK has also developed a laser weapon called ‘Dragonfire’ and plans to install it on Type 45 destroyers by 2027, and it is said to be so accurate that it can hit a 1 pound coin from 1km away. In particular, according to reports, in a test conducted in the Hebrides Islands, Scotland, Dragon Fire successfully intercepted a drone flying at a maximum speed of 650 km per hour. This speed exceeds the top speed of Russia’s Shahed-238 drone, meaning that Britain has the world’s best weapon capable of attacking drones.

China is also accelerating the development of laser weapons, and the high-power laser weapon ‘LY-1’ was spotted on the deck of a civilian cargo ship, RoRo, earlier this month. LY-1 was first unveiled at the Chinese Victory Day military parade on September 3, and Chinese media claims that it has an output of 180 to 250 kW, making it more powerful than the US Navy’s Helios.

Reporter Park Jong-ik

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