Within A Laser Can Be The Cheapest Shot In An Air Defence...
When Bad Weather Beats a Laser
Rain, fog, dust and turbulence can turn a cheap laser engagement into a risky bet when a missile offers a steadier intercept path.
On this page
- How rain, fog and dust weaken the beam
- Why missiles can be more predictable in poor conditions
- How commanders decide when weather risk is too high
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Introduction
A high-energy laser can be an exceptionally cheap way to destroy a drone or other airborne threat, but only when the atmosphere allows enough energy to reach the target. In poor weather, the key question is not whether a laser works in principle, but whether commanders can trust it to work quickly and reliably enough when failure has consequences. Rain, fog, dust, smoke, sea spray and atmospheric turbulence can weaken, scatter or distort a laser beam, reducing the amount of energy delivered to the target. Under those conditions, a missile often becomes the safer choice because it carries its destructive effect to the target rather than depending on a clear path through the air. [GAO+2Air and Space Power Centre]gao.govgao 23 106717Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — Directed energy weapons—such as lasers—use energy fired at the speed of…
This weather-driven trade-off is one of the most important reasons that modern air-defence planners generally view lasers as a complement to missiles rather than a replacement for them. The decision is often less about cost than about confidence in achieving the intercept. [National Defense Magazine+2The Strategist]nationaldefensemagazine.orggovernment perspective directed energy in air base defense can save the arsenalHigh-power electromagnetic weapons require line-of-sight and are sensitive…Read more…
How Rain, Fog and Dust Weaken the Beam
Laser weapons must deliver a concentrated amount of energy onto a small area of a target for a sufficient period of time. Weather interferes with that process in several ways.
Rain and fog scatter light. Water droplets absorb and scatter portions of the beam before it reaches the target. Thick fog is especially problematic because it contains vast numbers of suspended droplets that can significantly reduce beam transmission. Research on atmospheric laser propagation consistently identifies fog, rain and cloud as major sources of attenuation. [Eureka+2Air and Space Power Centre]eureka.patsnap.comreport atmospheric effects on long range laser power transmissionAtmospheric Effects On Long-Range Laser Power…28 Aug 2025 — Weather conditions dramatically affect transmission efficiency, with…
Dust, smoke and aerosols spread the energy. Airborne particles can divert energy away from the target and reduce the beam’s effectiveness. Desert environments, battlefields filled with smoke, and maritime environments with sea spray can all create conditions that degrade performance. Drill & Defense+2Air and Space Power Centre [drillanddefense.com]drillanddefense.comWeather and atmosphere can reduce effectiveness. Fog, rain, smoke, dust, sea spray, and…
Turbulence distorts the beam. Uneven heating and movement within the atmosphere alter the path of light as it travels. Instead of arriving as a tightly focused point, the beam can become distorted, reducing the intensity delivered to the target. Atmospheric turbulence is a long-recognised challenge in high-energy laser propagation. [Digital Commons+2Baghdad Science Journal]digitalcommons.ndu.eduDigital Commons Effects of Directed Energy WeaponsThe techniques for doing… Thermal blooming results when the absorption of laser energy causes the…Read more…
Thermal blooming adds another complication. As powerful laser energy heats the air through which it passes, the atmosphere itself can act like a distorting lens. This phenomenon, known as thermal blooming, can further reduce beam concentration, particularly over longer distances or in challenging atmospheric conditions. [The Strategist+2Wikipedia]aspistrategist.org.auwar at the speed of light the emerging role of directed energy weaponsThe Strategistthe emerging role of directed-energy weapons15 Apr 2026 — atmospheric effects can reduce the effectiveness of high energy l…
The practical consequence is that a target which might be disabled in a few seconds on a clear day may require longer exposure in degraded conditions, or may not receive enough energy for a reliable kill at all. Air and Space Power Centre+2Drill & Defense [airpower.airforce.gov.au]airpower.airforce.gov.auAir and Space Power Centre Directed Energy WeaponsAir and Space Power CentreDirected Energy Weapons - Air and Space Power CentreAtmospheric weather conditions (eg cloud, rain, fog, changi…
Why Missiles Can Be More Predictable in Poor Conditions
Missiles are not immune to weather. Severe conditions can affect sensors, guidance systems and aerodynamic performance. However, their basic engagement mechanism is fundamentally different from that of a laser.
A missile carries explosive energy directly to the target. Once launched, it does not need to continuously transmit destructive power through kilometres of atmosphere. By contrast, every metre of air between a laser and its target becomes part of the engagement problem. [Drill & Defense]drillanddefense.comWeather and atmosphere can reduce effectiveness. Fog, rain, smoke, dust, sea spray, and…
This difference creates several operational advantages for missiles during adverse weather:
- Less dependence on atmospheric transparency. A missile can continue toward the target even when rain, fog or dust would significantly degrade beam quality. [Air and Space Power Centre]airpower.airforce.gov.auAir and Space Power Centre Directed Energy WeaponsAir and Space Power CentreDirected Energy Weapons - Air and Space Power CentreAtmospheric weather conditions (eg cloud, rain, fog, changi…
- More consistent engagement ranges. Laser range effectively shrinks as atmospheric conditions worsen, whereas missile range is generally less sensitive to visibility conditions. [Defence Finance Monitor]defencefinancemonitor.comdirected energy weapons in 20252035Defence Finance MonitorDirected Energy Weapons in 2025–2035: Development…23 May 2025 — The downside is weather and atmosphere: laser b…
- Greater confidence against high-value threats. When defending a ship, air base or critical infrastructure, commanders may prefer the weapon with the highest predicted probability of kill rather than the lowest cost per shot. [GAO]gao.govgao 23 106717Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — Directed energy weapons—such as lasers—use energy fired at the speed of…
- Reduced sensitivity to brief weather changes. A sudden patch of fog, smoke plume or dust cloud can alter laser performance during an engagement window. Missile intercepts are often less vulnerable to such short-term atmospheric variations. [Drill & Defense]drillanddefense.comWeather and atmosphere can reduce effectiveness. Fog, rain, smoke, dust, sea spray, and…
The result is that missiles frequently provide a more predictable outcome when atmospheric uncertainty becomes a major factor.
When Weather Turns a Cheap Shot into a Risky Bet
The appeal of laser air defence comes largely from economics. Systems can potentially engage large numbers of inexpensive drones at a tiny fraction of the cost of missile interceptors. Yet the cost advantage matters only if the engagement succeeds. [GAO]gao.govgao 23 106717Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — Directed energy weapons—such as lasers—use energy fired at the speed of…
Imagine a defended naval vessel facing incoming drones during a storm. A laser shot may cost only a few pounds or dollars in electrical power, but if sea spray, rain and turbulence reduce beam effectiveness, the risk of a failed engagement rises. In that situation, expending a much more expensive missile may still be the rational decision because the cost of a leak in the defence is far higher than the cost of the interceptor. [Laser Wars+2National Defense Magazine]laserwars.netnavy laser weapons challenges atmosphere fogLaser WarsFog of War: The Biggest Challenge for Naval Laser Weapons22 May 2025 — Welcome to the literal fog of war, where high-energy las…
This is particularly true for threats that leave little margin for error. An incoming cruise missile, for example, may provide only a short engagement window. If weather conditions reduce confidence in a laser kill, commanders often favour the more established intercept method. [National Defense Magazine]nationaldefensemagazine.orggovernment perspective directed energy in air base defense can save the arsenalHigh-power electromagnetic weapons require line-of-sight and are sensitive…Read more…
How Commanders Decide When Weather Risk Is Too High
Military operators do not normally make a simple binary choice between lasers and missiles. Instead, they evaluate expected effectiveness under current conditions.
Several factors influence the decision:
Visibility and atmospheric transmission. Weather sensors, forecasts and atmospheric measurements help estimate how much laser energy is likely to reach the target. [NDU Press]ndupress.ndu.eduPress Directed Energy Weapons Are RealAnd DisruptiveJan 9, 2020 — In this case, the laser weapon system would sense the atmospheric conditions… beam quality can also help t…
Target type and urgency. A slow, inexpensive drone may still be a suitable laser target in marginal weather. A fast or strategically important threat may justify immediate missile engagement. [Institute for National Strategic Studies]inss.ndu.eduAgainst smallInstitute for National Strategic StudiesLaser-focusing Defense CapabilitiesHigh-power lasers can defeat UAS by rapidly heating and struct…
Range to target. Atmospheric effects accumulate with distance. Conditions that are acceptable at short range may become unacceptable at longer ranges. [Eureka]eureka.patsnap.comreport atmospheric effects on long range laser power transmissionAtmospheric Effects On Long-Range Laser Power…28 Aug 2025 — Weather conditions dramatically affect transmission efficiency, with…
Consequence of failure. The more severe the consequences of a missed intercept, the more likely commanders are to favour a weapon with a more predictable probability of success under current conditions. [GAO]gao.govgao 23 106717Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — Directed energy weapons—such as lasers—use energy fired at the speed of…
Modern laser programmes are attempting to reduce weather sensitivity through adaptive optics, beam-control systems and other techniques that compensate for atmospheric distortion. These advances can improve performance and expand the range of usable conditions. Even advocates of these technologies acknowledge, however, that severe rain, dense fog and similar conditions remain difficult operational environments. [NDU Press+2C4ISRNet]ndupress.ndu.eduPress Directed Energy Weapons Are RealAnd DisruptiveJan 9, 2020 — In this case, the laser weapon system would sense the atmospheric conditions… beam quality can also help t…
Why Weather Keeps Missiles Relevant
The central lesson is not that bad weather makes lasers useless. Modern high-energy lasers can operate through many atmospheric conditions, and developers continue to improve their resilience. The issue is that weather introduces uncertainty into a weapon whose effectiveness depends on maintaining a concentrated beam through the atmosphere. [Army+2NDU Press]army.mildeveloping lasers that pierce fog dust to destroy targetsArmy developing lasers that pierce fog, dust to destroy targets23 Oct 2017 — A lot of people think that high-energy lasers, or HELs…
Missiles remain valuable because they are less dependent on atmospheric transparency and often provide a more predictable intercept when conditions deteriorate. In layered air-defence systems, weather therefore acts as a practical decision trigger: as atmospheric risk rises, the balance often shifts from the cheapest shot available to the shot most likely to succeed. Air and Space Power Centre+2Drill & Defense [airpower.airforce.gov.au]airpower.airforce.gov.auAir and Space Power Centre Directed Energy WeaponsAir and Space Power CentreDirected Energy Weapons - Air and Space Power CentreAtmospheric weather conditions (eg cloud, rain, fog, changi…
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Endnotes
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Additional References
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(PDF) Laser-Based Directed Energy WeaponsIn clear air, high-energy lasers maintain beam coherence and power density, enabling precise lon...
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(PDF) Atmospheric Propagation of High-Energy Laser BeamsLaser sources are widely used for exploring the atmosphere, in particular, its ga...
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ghly susceptible to atmospheric conditions, clouds, and smoke.Read more...
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