Apollo Australian High Energy Laser Weapon System

The Apollo Australian High Energy Laser Weapon System is designed to destroy or disable Group 1–3 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and disrupt their sensors at a distance, thereby reducing the effectiveness of coordinated swarm attacks. UAS are now employing countermeasures such as rapid maneuvers, rotation, thermal insulation, and reflective coatings—tactics that make large swarms more challenging to track and engage. Over the past decade, Apollo has evolved to meet these challenges by delivering precision engagement, high power levels, and a continuous-fire capability to combat increasingly complex threats. At 100 kW power, Apollo can swiftly neutralize UAS, even in the presence of countermeasures. Its increased laser power and reduced dwell time between engagements allow it to disable more than 20 UAS per minute at typical ranges for swarm attacks. Swarm attacks are often coordinated by loitering UAS platforms positioned more than 10 km away, maintaining line-of-sight to the target area. Apollo targets these sensors to disrupt swarm coordination and the flow of targeting data. With external electrical power and cooling, Apollo can fire continuously. When operating independently, its internal magazine supports more than 200 UAS kills. Apollo integrates with NATO air defense command and control systems and theater-level Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS), facilitating rapid deployment within existing defense architectures. Packaged in a 20-foot ISO container, Apollo is easy to transport and camouflage, with a swift setup process after deployment. The system can become operational in under two hours when managed by experienced crews. **Features:** - Laser power: 50–150 kW - CUAS (Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems) hard kill range: 50 meters to 3 kilometers - Optical sensor denial range: 50 meters to 15 kilometers - Capable of over 20 drone kills per minute (for Group 1 UAS) - Slew-to-cue and engage time: less than 1.5 seconds (at 60 degrees) - Unlimited engagement capability with external electrical power - Can store over 200 kills in the magazine when fully isolated - Integrated with all NATO-fielded Command and Control (C2) and Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS) - Packaged in a 20-foot ISO container for rapid relocation