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News May 15, 2025

Laser Weapons Are 100x Times Cheaper Than Missiles: When Will Governments Utilize Them?

Laser Weapons Are 100x Times Cheaper Than Missiles: When Will Governments Utilize Them?
Laser-directed energy weapons are moving from experimental concepts to real-world deployment, as recent developments highlight their growing role in modern defence. Despite their clear cost advantages and precision, however, laser weapons are still used by only a limited number of countries.

Rising Interest in Directed Energy Weapons

Ukraine has joined a short list of countries that have deployed an anti-drone laser weapon, increasing global interest in directed energy weapons (DEWs). The global DEW market was valued at $6.7 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.6%.

Photonics experts point to cost-effectiveness as one of the most appealing factors driving worldwide adoption of DEWs, although technological and strategic challenges remain.

Recently, Ukraine demonstrated its first laser weapon, Tryzub, developed in less than two months. Despite this rapid progress, fewer than ten countries are currently known to operate laser weapons.

According to photonics experts from Altechna, directed energy weapons are likely to become a key component of defence and military operations in the coming years due to their durability and cost efficiency.

Cost Advantages over Conventional Weapons

Directed energy weapons offer a new approach in one of the world’s most expensive industries – defence. For example, the United Kingdom’s DragonFire laser system can neutralise aerial threats at a cost of around $13 per shot, compared to missiles that can cost up to $111 million.

While experts emphasise that DEWs could soon offer defence tools that are hundreds of times cheaper than widely used technologies, they also stress that significant limitations remain.

“Even though we often talk about the cost-effectiveness of the end product – a single shot – we have to understand that there’s a whole path to reach that,” said Antanas Laurutis, CEO of Altechna. “Size is one of the constraints. Eventually, it should become portable enough to be deployed both on the ground and in the air. Another crucial aspect is the optics behind it – they have to be durable enough to withstand huge power needs.”

Credit: TALOS



Optics, Durability, and Long-Term Reliability

To ensure that laser weapons do not overheat or degrade, several parameters are being improved across the industry. For DEW applications, laser optics must have a high Laser-Induced Damage Threshold (LIDT) and low absorption rates.

These characteristics help ensure long-term durability by reducing laser fatigue – the gradual degradation of optical components under repeated high-power use. As a result, DEWs can fire low-cost shots repeatedly without frequent maintenance or expensive component replacement.

This reliability is one of the main reasons more countries are accelerating investments in laser-based defence systems.

Fragmented Adoption across Countries

“The development of DEWs is fast, yet their adoption varies across countries,” Laurutis continued. “The United States has already invested billions in laser weapon development, but much of this work remains experimental. The UK, Israel, Russia, China, France, India, and Turkey are also working on their own laser weapons projects. While these are clear signs that laser DEWs are close to operational readiness, progress remains fragmented.”

Europe, however, is taking a more coordinated approach through initiatives such as TALOS-TWO, of which Altechna is a part. The project brings together industry and defence experts to develop high-power laser systems in cooperation with multiple EU Member States.

According to the project framework, this represents a strategic shift toward integrating directed energy weapons into European defence programmes both at the continental and national levels.

Precision over Destruction

As laser weapon systems move from concept to deployment, experts say they are also changing how modern warfare is approached.

“Traditional missiles and drones are designed for large-area impact. Laser weapons are built for precision and control,” explained Deividas Buinovskis, CTO of Altechna. “Their primary role is defensive – intercepting and neutralising threats such as unmanned aerial vehicles, rockets, or mortar shells. DEWs can do this with extreme accuracy, preventing wide-scale destruction such as missile strikes on infrastructure, artillery bombardments, or ballistic missile attacks.”

Credit: TALOS



Market Growth and Remaining Challenges

The global directed energy weapons market was valued at approximately $6.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 17.6% between 2025 and 2034. This growth is driven by increasing investment in advanced defence technologies designed to counter threats such as drones and other unmanned aerial systems.

“DEWs offer a major upgrade in defence capabilities through greater precision, scalability, and cost-effectiveness,” Buinovskis concluded. “However, widespread adoption depends on overcoming technical challenges like beam stability and power efficiency. Equally important are clear operational strategies and strong international collaboration.”