TECHNOLOGY: Italy to Lead EU Project to Develop Mobile Laser Weapon Systems for Air Defense.

According to information published by the European Union on May 27, 2025, EU Member States have officially endorsed 11 new collaborative defense initiatives under the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework. Among these, the “Directed Energy Systems” project, spearheaded by Italy with the participation of Spain, stands out as a groundbreaking development in next-generation air defense. This initiative aims to deliver a modular and scalable Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system designed for integration on mobile platforms, targeting the enhancement of short and very short-range air and missile defense capabilities, SHORAD (SHort Range Air Defense) and VSHORAD (Very SHort Range Air Defense).
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Italy leads a European Union project to develop mobile laser weapon systems for air defense. (Picture source: Illustration editing Army Recognition Group)

Directed Energy Weapons, commonly referred to as laser weapons, represent a revolutionary advancement in military technology. These systems use focused beams of electromagnetic energy, particularly high-energy lasers, to destroy or disable aerial threats without using traditional ammunition. Unlike kinetic systems that fire physical projectiles, laser weapons deliver destructive power at the speed of light, allowing for rapid, accurate, and repeated engagements with minimal logistical burden. This new category of weapons provides several decisive advantages: an extremely low cost-per-shot compared to missiles or interceptors, unlimited ammunition constrained only by available power, minimal collateral damage due to pinpoint accuracy, and silent operation with no explosive impact.

In the context of SHORAD (Short-Range Air Defense) and VSHORAD (Very Short-Range Air Defense) missions, laser-based Directed Energy Weapons are uniquely positioned to provide effective protection against a wide range of modern battlefield threats. These include unmanned aerial systems (UAS) such as drones used for surveillance or attack, loitering munitions often referred to as kamikaze drones, cruise missiles flying at low altitudes to evade detection, and RAM threats (rockets, artillery shells, and mortar rounds) that can saturate conventional air defense systems. DEWs offer the ability to intercept and destroy these threats quickly and efficiently, making them ideal for protecting critical infrastructure, command centers, mobile units, and civilian areas.

The use of these weapons is particularly relevant given the lessons learned from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the recent war involving Israel, both of which have showcased the tactical impact of drones, loitering munitions, and coordinated saturation attacks. These conflicts have demonstrated the urgent need for highly responsive, sustainable, and cost-effective defense solutions that can neutralize large volumes of aerial threats in real time. The reliance on traditional interceptors has proven increasingly unsustainable in scenarios where small and cheap drones are deployed en masse to overwhelm and exhaust existing SHORAD capabilities.

The EU’s new Directed Energy Systems project will integrate high-energy laser systems with power outputs ranging from 10 to 100 kilowatts onto mobile defense platforms. These lasers will be capable of neutralizing incoming threats with surgical precision and minimal collateral effects. The project also includes the development of a sophisticated command, control, and communication (C3) architecture that incorporates threat evaluation, tracking sensors, and automatic weapon assignment systems. This integrated approach will ensure rapid detection, decision-making, and neutralization of hostile targets in dynamic combat environments.

A key objective of the initiative is to deliver a weapon system that is modular, scalable, and interoperable across different European forces, enhancing joint operational capability and coordination. The system is designed to offer a deep magazine, meaning it can fire repeatedly without the need for physical reloads, and a favorable cost exchange ratio, making it economically sustainable during extended operations. Its limited logistical footprint and high mobility will allow it to accompany frontline units or defend strategic sites without extensive support infrastructure.

The importance of this type of project lies in its direct response to the changing nature of warfare, where small, agile, and low-cost threats such as drones and precision-guided munitions are becoming dominant on the battlefield. By investing in laser weapon technologies, the European Union is taking a decisive step toward strengthening its defensive capabilities with systems that are both technologically advanced and tactically adaptable. This ensures that European armed forces will be better equipped to respond to current and emerging threats, enhance force protection, and maintain strategic superiority in increasingly contested airspaces.