The advent of laser technology in the 1960s quickly led to military interest, but not in the way envisioned by Star Wars and Star Trek. The sci-fi promise of high-power laser weapons was constrained for decades by bulky equipment and power inefficiency, rendering them impractical compared to missiles and ballistic weapons. Recent breakthroughs in fiber lasers, however, are changing the landscape by delivering unprecedented efficiency and beam quality. 

There is a growing need to demystify fiber lasers and educate on their role within the military domain. A basic technical understanding is necessary, together with a grasp of the current state of affairs, all of which will be elucidated hereafter. 

1. Technical Overview

The word laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The world’s first laser, using a ruby crystal, was first developed by American engineer and physicist Theodore Maiman in 1960, marking the beginning of the laser revolution. 

A key distinction lies in their use case. Although lasers are most readily associated with a destructive red beam, in which case they fall under the category of Directed Energy Weapons (DEW), they also support other military applications. Unlike conventional light sources, lasers emit light within an extremely narrow frequency band and direct it along a beam. These properties enable communication strategies that are more resistant to jamming and spoofing. Unlike radio frequency sources that radiate energy in all directions, laser beams encode information along a tightly confined path, preserving intensity over long distances and greatly reducing signal leakage. 

Notably, their potential in shoring up secure communication networks has been the focus of research and development programs. By virtue of their higher bandwidth, narrow divergence and coherence optical beams can convey large amounts of information. These attributes also make laser communication more resilient to jamming or spoofing when compared with traditional radio frequencies, a considerable advantage in an era of ever more sophisticated Electronic Warfare (EW).  Furthermore, their low Size Weight and Power (SwaP) requirements make them ideal for space-based systems where satellites can act as a mesh and relay data in near real-time anywhere in the globe. In the civilian sphere, this is leveraged by SpaceX’s Starlink constellation. (Newdick, 2024)

When it comes to its role as DEW, the laser is touted mainly due to its economics, where the cost-per-shot is driven to a dismissible amount. Other desirable attributes include a high degree of accuracy, limiting collateral damage, and a reduced number of mechanical parts, making the system more resilient. On the other hand, unlike kinetic weapons, they are not one-hit wonders, necessitating a constant beam and prolonged contact with the target to achieve a kill. 

In terms of their classification, they are ranked either according to their power level or power source. 

As for the former, ranging from 10 kW to 100kW, one will find lasers able to damage only optical or optoelectronic devices. Beyond the 100kW threshold, they are considered High Energy Lasers (HEL), at which point they possess real destructive capabilities in a variety of roles. The 100kW mark has historically been challenging to achieve, mainly because of issues relating to: cooling, which is essential to keep the beam concentrated; and the integration of a range of support elements, including an effective system of Adaptive Optics (AO) to compensate for disturbances in the atmosphere. 

As for the latter classification of power source, chemical lasers, although the most mature with decades of research behind them, have come to an impasse due to challenges in storing chemical fuel and cooling. Fiber lasers are the most compact and promising type, due to the advantage of being able to combine multiple of these into one overlapped high power beam. Additionally, there are also solid-state lasers and Free-Electron Lasers (FEL). (Kaushal & Kaddoum, 2017)

Tempering expectations amid decades of promises

Having dealt with the technical, the narrative surrounding lasers should be addressed as well. Fostered by a variety of actors, this technology is often touted as game-changing, implying that its adoption in the military would bring about a revolution in the manner warfare is conducted. While one ought not be as dismissive as U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy might have been in describing the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) as a ‘Star Wars’ scheme, one should also temper expectations of their potential technological disruption. 

Drawing from Jules Gaspard’s work titled Lasers and the Limits of Strategic Change, while there is a non-zero chance of laser weapons reaching strategic significance, this is merely one of the possible outcomes. More likely as of now, the advantages associated with lasers such as its disproportionally effective firepower against cost-per-shot, will at most bring about changes in the tactical sphere. 

This game-changing postulate is derived from a technicist fallacy, and a techno-determinist point of view that presumes strategic advantage as a corollary to technological innovation. This is a flawed point of view because it fails to account for similar advancements by the adversary. Borrowing from Lewis Carroll and evolutionary biology, the Red Queen hypothesis stipulates that in a competitive scenario, each adaptation will lead to a counter-adaptation. Effectively, competing countries are in a race to stay still, therefore preserving the balance of power. (Gaspard, 2025) 

Beyond the failure of the discourse, the actual development of laser weapons has so far fallen short of expectations, ultimately acting as a cautionary tale for those who pursue hype instead of real capabilities. Seemingly, manufacturers pursued ambitious targets ignoring the writing on the wall, mainly that the technology was not mature. Presumably, this is the result of the laser not being conceived as a solution-oriented technology but rather one in search of a problem. 

Early HEL programs faced steep challenges, struggling with beam quality and propagation. Byproducts of these efforts in the lower energy spectrum nevertheless, found useful applications in areas such as target designation and range finding. Interestingly, precision-guided munitions also owe their origin to these early attempts at mastering laser technology. 

The eventual scaling of chemical lasers in the mid-1970s reintroduced appeal to HELs, specifically as a means to intercept Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM). An idea which culminated in the SDI initiative and was further bolstered through the 1980s by a perceived laser gap building between the US and USSR. Beyond this point funding fluctuated according to waves of optimism and pessimism, with 2007 eligible for the title of annus horribilis. A welcome trend in 2000 is the general reevaluation of expectations, with focus shifting away from HELs to less powerful designs envisioned for a more tactical point defense role, incidentally leading to research into fiber lasers. 

In 2012, notwithstanding decades of development, the last big-ticket item, the Airborne Laser Project (ALP), concerned with a HEL, was canceled. This ICBM laser interceptor needed to be fit to a Boeing 7/47 and perhaps most damningly it had to be in range of an ICBM during its boost phase for successful interception. 

The troubled history described above is symptomatic of the US’s approach to military procurement, with long-cycle programs aimed at replacing legacy platforms through a qualitative approach rather than a  quantitative one, in an effort to keep ahead of the curve through its technological edge. An easily appreciable reality given the considerable rise in price-per-unit of modern military equipment. Moreover, the introduction of novel technologies is prone to causing delays and stymieing progress, a reality most apparent in recent ambitious naval procurements such as those of the Zumwalt and Ford class vessels.  (Rossiter, 2019)

2. Current State of Affairs

In recent times (2011), the US Navy adopted an incremental road map for laser development programs spread over three different divisions, to sensibly cultivate the technology. These will be scaled according to their power levels, ranging from 60kW to over 1MW.  Presently, increasing the power of these lasers is based on the notion of combining multiple fiber lasers, nevertheless the MW class is still a mirage. 

The sensible choice of proceeding gradually has produced tangible results and finds its backbone in the Laser Weapon System (LaWS) program. Installed on USS Ponce in 2014, it demonstrated capabilities pertinent to a 30kW system,m and the knowledge gathered has since then aided in the development of the following programs.

In late 2024, the High Energy Laser and Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system conducted testing aboard the USS Preble, with a speculative power of 60 to 150kW. This program will help educate choices towards a more powerful system, the High Energy Laser Counter Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Project (HELCAP,) envisioned at 300kW. (Johnston, 2025) 

At a lower power-band, one can find the Optical Dazzling Interdictor Navy (ODIN), a solid-state laser meant as an electro-optical countermeasure with an estimated power of ~30kW presently on at least 8 surface combatants. (O’Rourke, 2022) 

This long-winded process betrays a thoroughness that might not be completely honest, with some arguing that there is difficulty in transitioning these HELs into operational combat weapons. This can be attributed to technical challenges, it is not a coincidence that HELs are being tested on ships given their requirement for plenty and constant energy. Operational realities may also be to blame, while demonstrations are carried out, a sense of distrust still exists for non-kinetic weapons, which are susceptible to a larger number of variables. (Zhang & Zeng, 2023) 

Across the pond and in the Pacific, allies are playing catch-up with their own development programs.  

Japan and its Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) have been in the business since at least 2018. Just now in 2025 the wider public is getting to see the outcome of years of research, at DSEI 2025 a truck-based 10kW weapon was unveiled, while only days ago pictures surfaced of a 100Kw ship-based system. The latter has been installed on the test ship JS Asuka and unless this is a simple fit check, there may be live-fire tests in the coming months. Notably, ATLA has put in place a program aimed at researching all those systems related to fielding such a weapon effectively and safely aboard naval vessels. Overall, progress will be gauged by success in miniaturizing the HEL both physically and in terms of  power draw wise. (Inaba, 2025) 

In Europe, when evaluating progress on HEL one can identify the usual shortcomings associated with the procurement , which is often  conducted in the Old World. Fragmentation is the rule of thumb and in the flagship program, TALOS-TWO, 8 countries are involved with more than 17 companies. This is not to mention the meager backing of 25 million Euros, paling when compared to the billions poured by the US in its efforts. (Larsen, 2025)

The UK is the only nation seemingly poised to field an example of a  laser weapon with the DragonFire naval-based system, coming in at an alleged power level of 50k,W it is slated for operational service in 2027. (N/A, 2025)

3. Final considerations

In light of the above discussion, one can appreciate the challenges associated with fielding a novel technology, consecutive efforts have borne result even if belatedly. In terms of what happens next, there appearsto be  a need to not only continue along the successful incremental road map approach but also invest in educating decision-makers and war-fighters alike in the capabilities of these laser weapons. Furthermore, in terms of procurement, this might offer a good opportunity for alliances, political and military, to coalesce their efforts into mastering this challenging technology. 

References

Gaspard, Jules J.S., “Lasers and the Limits of Strategic Change,” Military Strategy Magazine, 10:3, (2025), 24-31.                                          https://doi.org/10.64148/msm.v10i3.3 

Inaba, Y. (2025), “ High Energy Laser system spotted aboard JMSDF test ship”, Naval News. https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/12/high-energy-laser-system-spotted-aboard-jmsdf-test-ship/ 

Johnston, C. (2025), “ U.S. Navy HELIOS laser test underscores greater advancements in Directed Energy Weapon”, Naval News. https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/02/u-s-navy-helios-laser-test-underscores-greater-advancements-in-directed-energy-weapons/

Kaushal, H., & Kaddoum, G. (2017), “Applications of Lasers for Tactical Military Operations”, IEEE Access, 5, 20736–20753. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2017.2755678 

Larsen, H. (2025), “ Can Europe catch up on laser weapons?”, CEPA.  https://cepa.org/article/can-europe-catch-up-on-laser-weapons/ 

Newdick, T. (2024), “Link 16 coverage from space, laser communications relays make major advances”, TWZ. https://www.twz.com/air/link-16-coverage-from-space-laser-communications-relays-make-major-advances 

N.A. (2025), “DragonFire directed energy weapon to be fitted to four Royal Navy warships by 2027”, Navylookout. https://www.navylookout.com/dragonfire-directed-energy-weapon-to-be-fitted-to-four-royal-navy-warships-by-2027/  

O’Rourke, B. (2022), “Now arriving: High-power Laser Competition”, Proceedings, 148:7, 1433. https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2022/july/now-arriving-high-power-laser-competition 

Rossiter, A. (2018), “High-Energy Laser Weapons: Overpromising Readiness”, Parameters (Carlisle, Pa.), 48:4, 33–44. 

https://doi.org/10.55540/0031-1723.3010 

Zhang, H., Zeng, Y., & Sun, S. (2023), “From the development of shipborne laser weapon of U.S. navy to analyze the military requirements and countermeasures of navy”,  Journal of Physics. Conference Series, 2478:8, 82008. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2478/8/082008