Navy Tests Laser Weapon on Drones, Boats

The Navy is testing a new laser it is developing by using it on targets such as drones and small boats in the Persian Gulf.

Top Navy leaders say the laser could become a critical defense on a future generation of warships and offers great potential as a precise and economical weapon. A single shot from the laser could bring down a drone or blow up the engine of a small boat, officials said.

The prototype Laser Weapon System developed by the Office of Naval Research has proved cost-effective, and is less expensive to operate than many other systems, said Adm. Jon Greenert, chief of naval operations.

Read the full article at The Wall Street Journal.