When Weather Turns Precision Into a Problem

Introduction

A laser can be the ideal directed-energy weapon against a single drone when the target is clearly visible and the beam can remain concentrated on one aim point. However, that advantage depends on something that is easy to overlook: the condition of the air between the weapon and the drone. Fog, rain, smoke, dust and haze can turn the atmosphere itself into an obstacle, scattering or absorbing laser energy before it reaches the target. In those conditions, the laser’s greatest strength—its ability to deliver highly concentrated energy to one precise spot—can be significantly reduced. As a result, the comparison between lasers and high-power microwave systems often changes when weather and visibility deteriorate. [Science.gc.ca+2MDPI]science.gc.cadirected energy weaponsFeb 11, 2025 — However, they can be adversely affected by atmospheric conditions like rain or fog. High power microwaves. High power micr…

When Weather Turns Precision Into a Problem

The basic challenge is that a laser weapon must move light through the atmosphere. Unlike a missile, which physically carries its energy to the target, a laser depends on maintaining a coherent beam over the entire engagement path.

Water droplets, dust particles, smoke aerosols and other airborne material interfere with that path in two main ways:

• Scattering: particles redirect portions of the beam away from the target.
• Absorption: particles absorb energy and convert it into heat before it reaches the drone.

Both effects reduce the amount of energy arriving on the intended aim point. Even if the laser remains accurately aimed, the target may receive insufficient power to cause structural failure or damage sensitive components. [MDPI+2ETH Zurich Files]mdpi.comrain, and bulk water. High Energy LaserLaser Beam Atmospheric Propagation Modelling for…by T Fahey · 2021 · Cited by 109 — Propagation through Haze, Fog and Rain Laser b…

This is particularly important for counter-drone missions. Small drones often require a laser to dwell on a motor, propeller, sensor housing or structural point long enough to create damaging heat. If atmospheric conditions reduce beam intensity, the required dwell time increases. At some point, a successful engagement may become impractical, especially against manoeuvring targets. [Office of Naval Research+2MDPI]onr.navy.milOffice of Naval ResearchCounter Directed Energy Weapons and High Energy LasersDirected energy weapons (DEWs) are defined as electromagnet…

Why Fog Is Especially Difficult

Among common weather conditions, fog is often one of the most challenging for laser propagation.

Fog consists of dense concentrations of water droplets whose size is highly effective at scattering infrared laser wavelengths commonly used in directed-energy systems. Research into laser propagation consistently identifies fog as a major source of attenuation because large numbers of suspended droplets remove energy from the beam path. [ResearchGate]researchgate.netFSO system are very poorResearchGate(PDF) Wavelength and altitude dependence of laser beam…April 1, 2002 — 13 Jan 2015 — Fog and extreme rain are the primary…Published: April 1, 2002

The problem is not merely reduced visibility for the operator. A drone might still be detected by radar or other sensors, yet the laser may struggle to deliver sufficient energy through the fog layer. This distinction matters because detection and engagement are separate problems. Finding the drone does not guarantee that the laser can efficiently damage it. [MDPI]mdpi.comrain, and bulk water. High Energy LaserLaser Beam Atmospheric Propagation Modelling for…by T Fahey · 2021 · Cited by 109 — Propagation through Haze, Fog and Rain Laser b…

Smoke and Dust Can Be Deliberate Obstacles

Natural weather is not the only concern. Smoke and dust can create conditions similar to poor weather and may even be deployed intentionally.

Studies of high-energy laser countermeasures have examined smoke obscurants specifically because aerosol clouds can weaken laser effectiveness through scattering and absorption. Military planners have long recognised that smoke screens can complicate laser engagements by degrading beam quality before it reaches the target. [ADS Abstract Service]ui.adsabs.harvard.eduPotential success of the smoke does not depend only the…Read more…

For counter-drone operations near battlefields, industrial sites or burning infrastructure, the atmosphere may already contain significant smoke or particulate matter. In such environments, laser performance can become less predictable than in controlled testing conditions. [ADS Abstract Service]ui.adsabs.harvard.eduPotential success of the smoke does not depend only the…Read more…

The Atmosphere Does More Than Block Energy

Weather-related degradation is not limited to simple energy loss.

As high-energy laser beams travel through air, they can heat the atmosphere itself. This may create a phenomenon known as thermal blooming, in which heated air alters the beam’s propagation and causes it to spread. A spreading beam delivers less energy to the intended spot, reducing effectiveness. Atmospheric particles and absorption can worsen these effects because more energy is deposited into the air rather than the target. [NDU Press+2DEPS]ndupress.ndu.eduPress Effects of Directed Energy Weaponsmore…

The result is a cascading problem:

For a weapon whose primary advantage is precision energy delivery, this chain of effects directly attacks its core strength. [NDU Press]ndupress.ndu.eduPress Effects of Directed Energy Weaponsmore…

Why Microwaves Can Regain an Advantage

The same environmental conditions that frustrate lasers do not necessarily affect high-power microwave weapons to the same extent.

Microwave systems operate at much longer wavelengths than laser systems. Although severe weather can influence microwave propagation, fog droplets, haze particles and many smoke conditions generally have a much smaller effect on microwave transmission than on tightly focused laser beams. This means a microwave weapon may retain more of its intended effectiveness when visibility deteriorates. [Science.gc.ca+2DEPS]science.gc.cadirected energy weaponsFeb 11, 2025 — However, they can be adversely affected by atmospheric conditions like rain or fog. High power microwaves. High power micr…

This does not automatically make microwaves superior. Against a single drone in clear conditions, a laser’s precision may still provide the cleaner and more controlled engagement. However, when atmospheric attenuation becomes significant, the laser’s precision advantage can shrink enough that the broader-area electronic effects of a microwave system become comparatively more attractive. [AeroMorning.com+2Science.gc.ca]aeromorning.comDirected-Energy Counter-Drone: RF vs Laser…2 days ago — Comparison of counter-drone directed-energy systems: RF RapidDestroyer vs MBDA…

In practical terms, the question changes from:

“Can the laser hit the drone?”

to:

“Can enough laser energy survive the atmosphere to damage the drone before it escapes the engagement window?” [MDPI]mdpi.comrain, and bulk water. High Energy LaserLaser Beam Atmospheric Propagation Modelling for…by T Fahey · 2021 · Cited by 109 — Propagation through Haze, Fog and Rain Laser b…

The Decision Point Before Choosing a Laser Shot

Modern laser programmes increasingly acknowledge that atmospheric conditions are part of the engagement calculation rather than a secondary concern. Researchers have developed adaptive optics, atmospheric sensing systems and beam-control techniques intended to compensate for turbulence and some propagation losses. These improvements can reduce, but not eliminate, weather-related limitations. [ResearchGate]researchgate.netResearch Gate(PDF) Laser-Based Directed Energy Weapons Atmospheric attenuation and thermal blooming during beam propagation aremitigated through feedback from wavefront and atmospheric sensors to the adaptive …Read more

As a result, operators considering a laser engagement against a lone drone typically face three questions:

If the answer to the second question becomes doubtful because of fog, heavy rain, smoke or dense dust, the engagement calculus changes. A laser may still function, but its clean single-target advantage is no longer guaranteed. Under those conditions, alternative directed-energy options—particularly high-power microwaves—or conventional counter-drone methods can become the more reliable choice. sto.nato.int+3Science.gc.ca+3MDPI [science.gc.ca]science.gc.cadirected energy weaponsFeb 11, 2025 — However, they can be adversely affected by atmospheric conditions like rain or fog. High power microwaves. High power micr…

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Endnotes

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