Japan has taken a major step in directed-energy weapon development by mounting a 100-kilowatt laser on a Maritime Self-Defense Force test ship, the JS Asuka. The 6,200-ton vessel, essentially a floating laboratory, is now serving as a platform to trial advanced laser technology designed to neutralize drones and other aerial threats.
The system achieves its power by combining ten 10-kilowatt lasers, producing enough energy to burn through metal surfaces. Unlike conventional weapons, the laser can fire continuously as long as the ship has power, offering a potentially cost-effective and rapid-response defense mechanism against swarming drones, small boats, or other targets.
Defense officials describe the deployment as part of Japan’s broader initiative to integrate cutting-edge technology into its maritime forces, enhancing the Self-Defense Force’s ability to protect strategic assets. The JS Asuka, already used for testing naval systems, provides an ideal platform to experiment with laser targeting, tracking, and operational endurance in real-world maritime conditions.
While still in the testing phase, the 100-kilowatt naval laser represents a significant milestone in Japan’s development of directed-energy weapons, signaling a shift toward high-tech, energy-based defense solutions that could redefine naval security in the coming years.
