The US military has been deploying high-energy laser systems in the Strait of Hormuz to counter drones and other aerial threats, with troops reportedly using reconfigured Xbox-style controllers to operate the weapons.
According to a report by The New York Post, the US Department of War confirmed that the systems are being used to destroy “drones and incoming cruise missiles at a much lower cost than using more expensive kinetic weapons like missiles.”
How the laser weapons work
The US has been developing directed-energy weapons for around 50 years. Unlike conventional missile-based defence systems, lasers do not require a separate physical interceptor for every target.
The systems use generators or battery packs to produce energy, which is converted into photons. These light particles are concentrated into a powerful beam and directed at a target. The intense heat can damage or destroy the object.
Mark Neice, president of Directed Energy Consultants, explained the precision involved in targeting drones.
“We can very specifically track and target drones and put the spot exactly where we want it, (in order) to disable its sensors or kill [explode] the drone itself,” he was quoted as saying by NDTV.
The US military is reportedly spending around $500 million on the technology.
Why Xbox controllers are being used
One of the more unusual aspects of the deployment is the use of modified Xbox game controllers to operate the laser systems.
The reasoning, according to the report, is that gaming companies have already spent years refining controllers, so the military sees little reason to develop an entirely new interface for operators.
Jared Keller, who writes the Laser Wars newsletter, said the move to deploy the technology outside laboratories was significant.
“If you've shot a Spartan laser in 'Halo', you can probably fire [one of the weapons] in real life,” Keller claimed.
From Mexico to the Middle East
The laser systems have reportedly been used against Mexican cartels and deployed aboard several military vessels in the Middle East. Experts cited in the report said the technology has not yet been used against human targets.
Brent Ziarnick, a senior fellow in defence studies at the American Foreign Policy Council, said the technology could have major implications for military logistics.
“Put enough energy through them and it's possible to have a very good defensive system. You can, conceivably, not have to worry about ammunition stockpiles. It can change military logistics quite a bit.”
However, the systems currently deployed in the Middle East remain large and heavy and are mainly fitted to warships.
The High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) systems can reportedly focus a 60-kilowatt laser on targets. Boeing has also developed the more compact CLWS system, which is designed to counter Group 3 drones.
The technology still has limitations. Laser systems work best with clear skies and can struggle against large numbers of drones launched simultaneously.