US Navy advances laser weapons for drone defense despite maritime challenges

The US Navy is integrating directed-energy weapons as a complement to kinetic systems for countering low-cost drone threats, acknowledging that salt, humidity, and residual heat degrade beam accuracy and consistency at sea. The development signals a continued shift toward layered defense, with integration into existing ship systems as the key operational hurdle. No specific platform or timeline is disclosed, and the source is a translated general-news report.