Why Australia ordered this $125 million anti-drone laser weapon

Samuel Clench explains why an Australian technology company has secured a $125 million deal with a European country for a high‑energy laser weapon system designed to shoot down over a dozen drones within a minute. Electro Optic Systems (EOS) signed a contract with a European NATO member state—whose name has not been disclosed—to deliver the 100‑kilowatt anti‑drone weapon between 2025 and 2028. The company’s share price rose more than 40 % on the news. EOS said the new laser counter‑drone capability was developed to address the urgent market need and emerging strategic requirement to defend against drone swarm attacks at an economical cost, and that this is the world’s first export order for a 100‑kilowatt class laser defence system.