Japan has begun conducting live sea trials of a new 100-kilowatt-class laser weapon system installed aboard a military test vessel, marking a major step toward fielding directed-energy weapons to defend against drones and other short-range airborne threats.
The high-energy laser, mounted on the Maritime Self-Defense Force test ship Asuka, is undergoing final maritime test preparations at a Japan Marine United shipyard, according to Defense Ministry Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) officials.
Developed by ATLA’s Electronic Warfare Integration Office, the system is designed to intercept drones, unmanned aerial vehicles, and mortar rounds.
The project caps over a decade of Japanese laser-based defense research.
Sea trials of a 100-kilowatt laser weapon
In a recent technical briefing, ATLA officials said the weapon destroyed airborne drones and live mortar rounds during land-based tests earlier this year.
Those demonstrations cleared the way for its installation aboard a naval platform to evaluate its performance in real-world maritime conditions.
The laser system is housed in two container-sized modules, each roughly the size of a 40-foot shipping container.
The modules contain a fiber laser array, beam control optics, power management equipment, and cooling systems.
ATLA said the weapon combines ten domestically produced 10-kilowatt fiber lasers to generate a unified beam exceeding 100 kilowatts.
Officials highlighted the system’s “unlimited magazine” capability, noting that, unlike missile-based interceptors, the laser does not rely on physical ammunition.
Instead, it requires only electrical power to operate. ATLA said the cost per shot is sharply lower than that of conventional missiles and interceptor rounds, making the weapon especially suited for countering large numbers of inexpensive drones.
“So long as sufficient electrical power is available, the system can continue engaging targets without running out of ammunition,” the agency said.
Officials added that the cost of each shot is effectively limited to electricity consumption.
The upcoming sea trials will focus on the system’s ability to detect, track, and engage fast-moving aerial targets while operating from a moving ship.
Sensors linked to the laser include thermal imagers, high-speed steering mirrors, and precision tracking equipment designed to keep the beam locked on targets despite ship motion and environmental conditions.
Japan’s laser tech
Japan plans to follow the initial detection and tracking trials with attempts to intercept live projectiles over water in 2026, officials said.
Photos from the shipyard show the dome-shaped beam director installed on the Asuka’s rear deck. It is connected to the ship’s internal power and cooling systems. The Asuka has long been used to test new naval technologies.
Japan first transitioned from chemical-based laser research to fiber laser systems more than a decade ago, citing improvements in safety, scalability, and operational efficiency.
Earlier testing involved 50-kilowatt-class systems, followed by the higher-power 100-kilowatt configuration now entering sea trials.
ATLA officials said the current focus remains on countering drones and indirect fire threats such as mortars.
While officials acknowledged that higher-powered lasers could one day be applied to missile defense roles, they described that goal as a longer-term objective.
The development comes as militaries worldwide increasingly invest in directed-energy weapons as a response to the rapid spread of low-cost drones and loitering munitions.
Laser systems offer the promise of low operating costs, rapid engagement speed, and virtually limitless ammunition compared with traditional air defense systems.
Japan’s Defense Ministry has steadily expanded its research into lasers, railguns, and other advanced weapon technologies as it modernizes its forces amid growing security concerns in the region.
If successful, the trials aboard Asuka could move Japan closer to operational deployment of ship-based laser defenses to protect warships and key maritime infrastructure.
Kapil Kajal is an award-winning journalist with a diverse portfolio spanning defense, politics, technology, crime, environment, human rights, and foreign policy. His work has been featured in publications such as Janes, National Geographic, Al Jazeera, Rest of World, Mongabay, and Nikkei. Kapil holds a dual bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Electronics, and Communication Engineering and a master’s diploma in journalism from the Institute of Journalism and New Media in Bangalore.
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