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By Ryan Chan
China News Reporter
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A Japanese defense agency confirmed to Newsweek that a high-energy laser system capable of shooting down drones is being installed on a ship for future at-sea trials.
Why It Matters
A laser is a directed energy weapon that uses energy, instead of shells or missiles, to strike targets, making it less expensive per shot and giving it virtually unlimited firing capacity, which can be effective in defending ships against large numbers of threats, as seen in the United States' recent combat in the Red Sea against Yemen's Houthi rebels.
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Japan's development of a shipborne laser and other game-changing weapons comes as it faces China's growing military strength, demonstrated in a September parade, while ties between the two nations have recently deteriorated sharply following Tokyo's remarks about a possible military intervention in the event of a Chinese blockade of Taiwan.
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry for comment.
What To Know
Photos shared on X on December 3 show a prototype laser weapon mounted on JS Asuka, a test ship of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
The weapon appears identical to the one shown in footage released by the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) in 2023, which described a 100-kilowatt-class high-energy laser system designed to disable mortar shells and unmanned aircraft.
The ATLA, established under the Defense Ministry, is responsible for ensuring Japan's technological superiority in an "increasingly severe security environment" surrounding the country and for delivering advanced equipment to the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
The ATLA said in a statement shared with Newsweek that the 100-kilowatt-class high-energy laser system, which remains under research, is being developed for installation on the Asuka for future at-sea illumination tests.
According to an ATLA document, the laser system has already undergone land-based trials to demonstrate its ability to ignite a mortar shell and shoot down a small drone.
The defense outlet Naval News reported that the Asuka's laser system could be tested for its destructive effects, continuous engagement capability, target acquisition and tracking performance, sensor integration, and overall operational performance.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy has forward-deployed the laser-armed destroyer USS Preble in Japan since October 2024. The 60-kilowatt weapon—High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance—can counter fast-attack craft and drones.
Although often described as a futuristic technology, laser systems also face operational limitations, such as engaging only one target per engagement and requiring sustained dwell on the target for an extended period, the defense outlet The War Zone noted.
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What People Are Saying
Naval News reported: "Japan's Ministry of Defense (MOD) has been advancing the development of high-energy laser systems under the leadership of the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) as a low-cost interceptor compared with existing air-defense systems."
The War Zone reported: "[Laser weapon] range is limited and impacted by atmospheric conditions and their components are delicate and hardening them for hash military use is an ongoing process. So, even in a naval sense, while they still are a very attractive capability, they are for low-volume point defense cases against very limited target sets for the foreseeable future."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether Japan will equip its naval vessels with laser systems to enhance their defenses against China's advanced ship-sinking capabilities.
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