The Australians showed the Apollo laser, which destroys 50 drones per minute and costs pennies per shot

Laser in a container — mobility as an advantage

The Australian company Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has revealed details of its Apollo laser weapon for the first time before the DSEI exhibition in London. The system is packaged in a standard 20-foot ISO container, the same one that is carried on trucks and ships. This means that you have delivered it, connected it, and you are already protecting the object. This mobility is a huge plus for the army, where it takes every hour to deploy.

The Apollo is not a huge installation at the base, but a weapon that can be quickly deployed to where drones have become a threat.

150 kW per target: how it shoots down drones

The laser power is 150 kilowatts. This is enough to burn through the drone's body in a few seconds, disable the electronics or set the engine on fire. The system works on the principle of a "point strike": it focuses on the vulnerable part — most often on the propellers or the battery.

EOS claims that the installation is capable of hitting up to 50 drones per minute. This does not mean that she shoots 50 times — she switches between targets, quickly and accurately, as the beam burns through one, and immediately moves on to the next.

Why is it the "cheapest weapon"

One of the main advantages of a laser is the cost of a shot. A rocket or a bullet costs hundreds or thousands of dollars. And a laser is electricity. One "shot" costs a few cents. Even if you shoot down 100 drones in a row, the costs will be several times lower than from a single rocket launch.

In an environment where enemies are attacking with swarms of cheap drones, this is what makes the laser strategically advantageous. It's not just a weapon — it's the economics of war.

The first deal with NATO is not just a show—off

In August, EOS signed the world's first export contract for the supply of 100 kW class laser weapons with one of the NATO countries. This is not a demonstration, but a real purchase. This means that the system has been tested for combat capability, reliability and compatibility with army standards.

Entering the NATO market is a major breakthrough for the Australian company and for the entire directed energy industry. Now lasers are no longer the "technology of the future" — they are already here.

Sources

1. Focus.ua — Apollo laser weapon vs. drone swarms
2. Building-Tech.org — EOS 100 kW next-gen combat laser for drone defence
3. Armiya.az — EOS exports laser weapon to European NATO member