Rodney J. Jaleco | September 10, 2026
WASHINGTON D.C. —Step aside drones, lasers are coming. The US Army recently placed its first ever order for $465 million worth of lasers to shoot down unmanned aircraft. The rapid development of directed high energy lasers was spurred by the unprecedented threat from cheap, easily produced drones that have dominated battles in the Ukraine-Russia and US-Iran wars.
The Philippines is playing catch-up with nascent drone warfare technology and tactics, but could be lagging even farther behind with lasers. (Also read: Ukraine offers to build a drone factory in the Philippines)
On Feb. 6, 2023, crew of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) patrol ship BRP Malapascua was subjected to “military grade laser” that caused temporary blindness while they were on a mission to resupply comrades aboard the Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
The PCG said it was not the only incident — another coast guard vessel was exposed last June to a blue light for 20 minutes causing temporary blindness and skin irritations. Most Philippine patrol ships and aircraft don’t have laser-filter windows or laser-warning receivers that auto detect, raise the alarm and shutter sensors.
China is regarded as a leader in developing and deploying high energy military laser systems for counter-drone and short-range air defense. The “Lijian” for instance is a portable, backpack anti drone laser that can burn through small drones. Some reports suggest some Chinese companies are exporting laser weapons to buyers in the Middle East.
The wars in Ukraine and Iran have thrust drones as the weapon of choice for asymmetrical warfare. They’re used to overwhelm defenses, quickly depleting stocks of million-dollar missiles to shoot down drones produced in garages for a few hundred dollars from parts available on Best Buy or Amazon.
The rise of lasers swings the pendulum back to the kind of technology that may not be available off the shelf but offer very economical options for defeating drone swarms. Earlier this year, troops on the US-Mexico border destroyed at least 11 drones used by cartels to fly narcotics across the border. After the drug drones got zapped, smuggling attempts dropped 75 percent according to reports.
“The question is no longer whether these systems work, it is how quickly we can field them,” said US chief of naval operations Adm. Daryl Caudie. The Pentagon has earmarked $2 billion for directed-energy research, development and testing in the 2027 defense budget.
There are reportedly 31 ongoing directed-energy initiatives in the US military. The US Army contract awarded to AeroVironment which produces the Locust X3, a 3rdgeneration directed energy laser weapon system that can be mounted on Humvees and other vehicles.
Lasers can be thrown off by fog and sand, relies on a steady power source and require line of sight which means operators will have to close enough to see their targets (and consequently, subject to enemy detection and counter actions).
The Philippines has so far been subjected to the low end of China’s laser weapons arsenal. Under the United Nations’ Protocol IV, blinding laser weapons are banned but dazzlers that cause temporary blindness are in a legal gray zone. From the lack of goggles to non-existent laser warning systems, the Philippines is poorly equipped to meet this emerging threat.
Preparation needs to be cheap, fast and layered. The US and Australian navy crew operating in the West Philippine Sea are equipped with multiwavelength goggles. Laminated laser-protected bridge windows and laser warning receivers (LWR) – such as those sold by Israel and Sweden – can detect and record information that can be used for diplomatic protests.
The US is providing laser protection as part of Excess Defense Article assistance to the Philippines. (Also read: Philippines gets $100 million from the United States in 2027)
Japan and Australia are reportedly testing high-energy lasers for drone defense aboard some of their ships. The Philippines holds joint training exercises with both countries so the opportunity is there just as soon was we realize this new danger.
