Within Single Drones
When Precision Matters More Than Coverage
Lasers can be the safer choice when one suspicious drone is close to friendly drones, aircraft, electronics or civilian infrastructure.
On this page
- Why narrow beams reduce unintended effects
- Friendly drones and nearby electronics as the hard case
- Airports, ships and infrastructure as precision environments
Page outline Jump by section
Introduction
When a defender needs to stop one suspicious drone operating close to friendly aircraft, allied drones, communications equipment or civilian infrastructure, precision can become more important than raw coverage. In these situations, the narrow beam of a high-energy laser often offers a significant advantage over a high-power microwave system. The laser can concentrate energy onto a specific object and, in some cases, a specific component of that object, while minimising exposure outside the intended engagement path. By contrast, microwave weapons are designed to affect electronics through electromagnetic energy distributed across a broader area, a feature that can be valuable against swarms but potentially more complicated when friendly systems occupy the same space. [GAO]gao.govgao 23 106717Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — These weapons include high energy lasers and other high power electroma…
The distinction matters most in crowded operational environments: air bases launching their own drones, naval vessels packed with sensors, airports managing civilian traffic, and critical infrastructure sites where unintended effects may carry operational, economic or safety consequences. In those environments, the question is often not simply whether a drone can be defeated, but whether it can be defeated without disturbing everything around it.
Why Narrow Beams Reduce Unintended Effects
The core advantage of a laser in a precision-defence scenario is geometric discrimination. A laser weapon concentrates energy into an extremely narrow beam and keeps that energy focused on a selected target. Modern systems are designed around advanced tracking and beam-control technologies that allow operators to maintain energy on a precise aim point even against manoeuvring drones. [GOV.UK+2MBDA Systems]GOV.UKAdvanced future military laser achieves UK firstJanuary 19, 2024 — 19 Jan 2024 — The DragonFire laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system achieved the UK's first high-power firing of a…
This approach changes the collateral-risk calculation. Instead of broadcasting energy across a volume of air in the hope of coupling into hostile electronics, the laser seeks a direct line of sight to the specific drone that has been identified as a threat. The result is a smaller engagement footprint and greater confidence about where the weapon’s effects will occur. [Science.gc.ca]science.gc.cadirected energy weapons11 Feb 2025 — Directed energy weapons (DEWs) use concentrated energy from electromagnetic or particle technology, rather than kinetic ene…
High-power microwave systems are built around a different concept. Their purpose is to project electromagnetic energy capable of disrupting, degrading or damaging electronic systems. Because they are intended to interact with electronics rather than a single physical aim point, the area affected can be broader than the target itself. That characteristic is one reason they are attractive against multiple drones at once, but it can also complicate operations when friendly electronic systems are nearby. [Office of Naval Research+2NDU Press]onr.navy.milOffice of Naval ResearchDirected Energy Weapons: High Power MicrowavesNavy DEWs include systems that use high-energy lasers (HEL) that em…
For a lone drone, the broader-area effect may provide little additional benefit. If only one aircraft needs to be neutralised, the ability to place energy exactly where needed often becomes more valuable than the ability to affect a larger zone.
Friendly Drones and Nearby Electronics as the Hard Case
The most challenging counter-drone environments increasingly involve friendly unmanned systems operating alongside potential threats. Military bases, ports and border-security operations may have several authorised drones airborne at the same time that an unknown drone enters the area.
In this situation, defenders are not merely distinguishing between hostile and friendly objects; they are distinguishing between electronic systems separated by relatively small distances. A laser’s highly focused engagement geometry can help operators prosecute a single target while reducing the likelihood of affecting authorised drones operating nearby. The weapon’s effect is primarily concentrated where the beam is directed. [Science.gc.ca]science.gc.cadirected energy weapons11 Feb 2025 — Directed energy weapons (DEWs) use concentrated energy from electromagnetic or particle technology, rather than kinetic ene…
Microwave systems face a more complicated problem. Their effectiveness depends on electromagnetic energy coupling into electronic components. If multiple drones, sensors or communication links occupy the engagement zone, planners must consider whether non-target systems could also experience disruption, degradation or temporary upset. Official descriptions of high-power microwave weapons emphasise their ability to project radio-frequency energy against electronic targets, which is precisely why they are attractive for defeating groups of drones. Office of Naval Research+2National Defense Magazine [onr.navy.mil]onr.navy.milOffice of Naval ResearchDirected Energy Weapons: High Power MicrowavesNavy DEWs include systems that use high-energy lasers (HEL) that em…
This does not mean microwave systems cannot be used safely near friendly assets. Rather, it means the operational planning burden increases. Commanders must think not only about the hostile drone but also about the electronic environment surrounding it.
The issue extends beyond aircraft. Modern military installations depend on:
- Tactical communications networks.
- Radar systems.
- Navigation equipment.
- Data links connecting drones and operators.
- Electro-optical and infrared sensors.
When these systems are concentrated in a small area, precision can become a force-protection requirement rather than merely a performance advantage.
Airports, Ships and Infrastructure as Precision Environments
Civil airports illustrate why precision sometimes outweighs coverage. A suspicious drone near a runway may share airspace with civilian aircraft, airport surveillance systems, communications infrastructure and navigation aids. The objective is not simply to remove the drone; it is to remove the drone while avoiding disruption to the wider environment.
A laser’s line-of-sight engagement model aligns well with that requirement. Operators can focus on the identified threat rather than creating a broader electronic effect across the surrounding area. The value of that discrimination increases as the density of nearby systems rises. [GAO]gao.govgao 23 106717Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — These weapons include high energy lasers and other high power electroma…
Naval vessels present a similar challenge. Modern warships carry dense collections of radars, electronic warfare equipment, communications arrays and increasingly their own unmanned systems. A weapon that can engage an incoming drone with a tightly controlled beam may fit more comfortably into such a crowded sensor ecosystem than a system designed to project disruptive electromagnetic energy across a wider volume. This logic helps explain continuing naval interest in high-energy laser programmes for close-in defence missions. [Leonardo UK]uk.leonardo.comUKDragon Fire – Laser Directed Energy WeaponLeonardo UKDragonFire – Laser Directed Energy Weapon - Leonardo UKThis new UK sovereign capability is designed to provide short-range air…
Critical infrastructure sites create another precision environment. Electrical facilities, ports, industrial plants and transportation hubs contain large amounts of sensitive equipment. In these settings, defenders often prioritise predictable effects and precise engagement boundaries. The narrower the intended effect, the easier it becomes to assess operational risk before firing.
Precision in Practice: What DragonFire Demonstrates
The United Kingdom’s DragonFire programme provides a useful illustration of why precision is central to many laser-defence concepts. Official descriptions and subsequent reporting have repeatedly highlighted its ability to engage extremely small aim points at significant distance. Government and industry sources describe accuracy sufficient to hit a coin-sized target, while recent trials demonstrated successful engagement of high-speed drones. [TechRadar+3GOV.UK+3MBDA Systems]GOV.UKAdvanced future military laser achieves UK firstJanuary 19, 2024 — 19 Jan 2024 — The DragonFire laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system achieved the UK's first high-power firing of a…
Those demonstrations matter because they show that modern laser systems are not relying solely on raw power. They depend equally on tracking, stabilisation and beam control. In a crowded environment, that precision translates into a practical operational benefit: confidence that the weapon’s effect will remain concentrated on the intended target rather than spreading throughout the surrounding battlespace. [GOV.UK+2Tom's Hardware]GOV.UKAdvanced future military laser achieves UK firstJanuary 19, 2024 — 19 Jan 2024 — The DragonFire laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system achieved the UK's first high-power firing of a…
The point is not that lasers eliminate all collateral risk. A laser still requires a clear engagement path, careful target identification and consideration of what lies beyond the target. However, when the primary concern is defeating one drone while leaving nearby friendly systems untouched, precision becomes a decisive characteristic.
When Coverage Becomes a Liability
High-power microwaves remain highly attractive for countering mass drone attacks because they can affect multiple electronic targets within an engagement area. Recent demonstrations against large groups of drones highlight exactly this strength. [National Defense Magazine]nationaldefensemagazine.orgcounterdrone mission seen as killer app for directed energyNational Defense MagazineCounter-UAS Mission Seen as Killer App for Directed EnergyJan 20, 2026 — High-powered microwaves can blast more…
Yet the same characteristic can become less advantageous when only one drone is present and that drone is operating among friendly aircraft, authorised unmanned systems or critical electronics. In that circumstance, defenders may value certainty over breadth. The ideal weapon is not necessarily the one that influences the largest area; it is the one that produces the intended effect on the intended target and little else.
That is why lasers often become the preferred directed-energy option for single-drone defence near friendly systems. Their greatest advantage is not simply that they can destroy a drone. It is that they can do so while keeping the engagement as narrowly focused as possible. [GAO+2Science.gc.ca]gao.govgao 23 106717Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — These weapons include high energy lasers and other high power electroma…
Amazon book picks
Further Reading
Books and field guides related to When Precision Matters More Than Coverage. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.
The Kill Chain
Provides context on modern military technologies, autonomous systems, drones, and precision engagement concepts.
Army of None
Helps readers understand drone threats, autonomous systems, and the operational environments where precision effects matter.
Directed Energy Weapons: Technologies and Military Applications
Directly covers laser and high-power microwave weapons, their capabilities, limitations, and operational use cases.
Introduction to Directed Energy Weapons
Explains the fundamentals of laser and microwave systems and the trade-offs between different directed-energy approaches.
eBay marketplace picks
Marketplace Samples
Example marketplace items related to this page. Use the search link to explore similar finds on eBay.
Endnotes
-
Source: gao.gov
Title: gao 23 106717
Link: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-106717Source snippet
Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — These weapons include high energy lasers and other high power electroma...
Published: May 2023
-
Source: GOV.UK
Title: Advanced future military laser achieves UK first
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/advanced-future-military-laser-achieves-uk-firstSource snippet
January 19, 2024 — 19 Jan 2024 — The DragonFire laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system achieved the UK's first high-power firing of a...
Published: January 19, 2024
-
Source: mbda-systems.com
Link: https://www.mbda-systems.com/products/force-protection/dragonfireSource snippet
DRAGONFIREIts speed-of-light engagement, exceptional precision, and ability to counter high-speed manoeuvring threats, such as fast-movin...
-
Source: science.gc.ca
Title: directed energy weapons
Link: https://science.gc.ca/site/science/en/safeguarding-your-research/guidelines-and-tools-implement-research-security/emerging-technology-trend-cards/directed-energy-weaponsSource snippet
11 Feb 2025 — Directed energy weapons (DEWs) use concentrated energy from electromagnetic or particle technology, rather than kinetic ene...
-
Source: ndupress.ndu.edu
Title: Press Directed Energy Weapons Are Real
Link: https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/2053280/directed-energy-weapons-are-real-and-disruptive/Source snippet
And DisruptiveJan 9, 2020 — In the weapons version, the microwave energy effects or lethality depends on the power and range to target, b...
-
Source: uk.leonardo.com
Title: UKDragon Fire – Laser Directed Energy Weapon
Link: https://uk.leonardo.com/en/innovation/dragonfireSource snippet
Leonardo UKDragonFire – Laser Directed Energy Weapon - Leonardo UKThis new UK sovereign capability is designed to provide short-range air...
-
Source: techradar.com
Title: Tech Radar Game of drones
Link: https://www.techradar.com/tech/game-of-drones-dragonfire-laser-is-so-accurate-it-can-hit-a-coin-from-a-kilometer-away-and-even-400mph-drones-didnt-stand-a-chanceSource snippet
Capable of hitting a coin-sized target from a kilometer away, DragonFire offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional missile defen...
-
Source: gao.gov
Link: https://www.gao.gov/video/directed-energy-weapons-dod-should-focus-transition-planningSource snippet
targets at the speed of light over kinetic weapons, such as guns...
-
Source: onr.navy.mil
Link: https://www.onr.navy.mil/organization/departments/code-35/division-353/directed-energy-weapons-high-power-microwavesSource snippet
Office of Naval ResearchDirected Energy Weapons: High Power MicrowavesNavy DEWs include systems that use high-energy lasers (HEL) that em...
-
Source: nationaldefensemagazine.org
Title: counterdrone mission seen as killer app for directed energy
Link: https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2026/1/20/counterdrone-mission-seen-as-killer-app-for-directed-energySource snippet
National Defense MagazineCounter-UAS Mission Seen as Killer App for Directed EnergyJan 20, 2026 — High-powered microwaves can blast more...
-
Source: tomshardware.com
Title: uk confirms dragonfire laser weapon for royal navy destroyers by 2027
Link: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/uk-confirms-dragonfire-laser-weapon-for-royal-navy-destroyers-by-2027Source snippet
This follows a £316 million ($414 million) contract awarded to MBDA UK for the first two production units. DragonFire, a 50 kW-class lase...
-
Source: tomshardware.com
Link: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/uk-dragonfire-laser-downs-high-speed-dronesSource snippet
A $413 million (£316 million) contract has been awarded to MBDA UK to deploy DragonFire on the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers starting i...
Additional References
-
Source: researchgate.net
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4229403_Research_on_high_power_microwave_weaponsSource snippet
(PDF) Research on high power microwave weaponsThis structured narrative review analyses how High-Power Microwave (HPM) Directed Energy We...
-
Source: researchgate.net
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/399863884Laser-Based_Directed_Energy_Weapons_Technological_Capabilities_Material_Interaction_and_Strategic[DeploymentSource snippet
Directed energy offers precise defeat mechanisms with reduced. collateral effects critical in urban or infrastructure-sensitive environme...
-
Source: lockheedmartin.com
Link: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/directed-energy.htmlSource snippet
Directed Energy | Lockheed MartinExperience the potential of our laser weapons and directed energy weapon technologies, providing afforda...
-
Source: instagram.com
Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRUtM8hDKZS/?hl=enSource snippet
UK Government Scotland on Instagram: "Introducing...New footage from the United Kingdom shows the DragonFire laser weapon burning drones...
-
Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/theministryofdefence/videos/dragonfire-is-a-highly-advanced-laser-directed-energy-weapon-designed-and-built-/1172317644377460/ -
Source: droneshield.com
Link: https://www.droneshield.com/blog/a-counter-to-drone-swarms-high-power-microwave-weaponsSource snippet
A Counter to Drone Swarms: High-Power Microwave...HPM weapons work by emitting directed bursts of electromagnetic energy, disabling the...
-
Source: rtx.com
Link: https://www.rtx.com/raytheon/what-we-do/integrated-air-and-missile-defense/lasers -
Source: sto.nato.int
Link: https://www.sto.nato.int/document-tag/directed-energy-weapons/Source snippet
energy weapons Archivesthe potential threat from High Power Microwave (HPM) weapons and other Radio Frequency (RF) devices has increased...
-
Source: axios.com
Link: https://www.axios.com/2025/11/26/dragonfire-laser-weapon-drones-scotlandSource snippet
Ministry of Defence has successfully tested a new high-powered military laser weapon known as DragonFire, designed to destroy drones with...
-
Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1toVupe_R8Source snippet
U.S. Directed Energy Weapons SystemsThe Government Accountability Office explains what are Directed Energy Weapons and takes a look at ho...
Topic Tree