EOS demonstrates its laser ‘drone killer’ weapon

Defence and communications company Electro Optic Systems has demonstrated its high powered laser ‘drone killer’ weapon system in front of an international audience at the company’s Klondyke Range Complex in Western New South Wales.

The laser director is shown in the main photograph, mounted on a standard 20 foot container.

The directed energy weapon – seen by many as the future for anti drone systems – was tested in a first of its kind in Australia live demonstration in the presence of potential export customers from Europe, the Middle East, North America, and South East Asia.

However the company also showed off its light weight ‘Slinger’ kinetic weapon system with EOS successfully engaging moving drones from a moving vehicle (pictured below).

Capable of being mounted on a typical commercial utility vehicle, the Slinger uses a similar EOS remote weapon station (RWS) to that being exported to Ukraine.

The testing involved destroying drones with machine guns out to 500 metres and lasers beyond 1,000 metres, with a very high level of accuracy.

These capabilities are being designed and manufactured in Australia, and so may be exported subject to Australian export controls – some EOS RWS systems incorporate US technology and so are subject to US export controls.

Executive Vice President of EOS Defence Systems Matt Jones, said: “I am enormously proud of the achievements of the team at EOS, with testing exceeding expectations on all counter-drone systems.

“Drones are a threat in military and civilian environments right now.

“Counter-drone capabilities, like those developed by EOS, are becoming increasingly essential, and will save the lives of our allies, or perhaps our own Defence Force personnel in the future.”

EOS said its counter-drone systems were evidence of genuinely sovereign capabilities meeting the needs of government and defence, including countering contemporary and emerging threats, such as those in Ukraine.

Jones said: “EOS’ directed energy capability has significant export potential, adding to Australia’s strategic weight and the reputation of Australian defence industry.”

The directed energy capability is an area of priority for the Defence Advanced Strategic Capability Accelerator (ASCA), and the focus of AUKUS Pillar II on electronic warfare.

Initially designed for export, these cutting-edge capabilities have generated interest from potential customers in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and South-east Asia, according to the company.

Further reading:
Electro Optic Systems qualifies laser weapon
EOS launches new Slinger anti-drone weapons system

Picture: Electro Optic Systems/Directed energy beam director installed on a standard 20 foot container