Israeli startup unveils laser system it says can kill drones in seconds – Fin Market 5150
AI Analysis
Israeli startup Esh-Tech is unveiling its DroneLight laser system, designed as a hard-kill counter-UAS solution, at Eurosatory. The system utilizes a 4kW pulsed laser, claiming faster engagement times and lower costs compared to existing laser-based C-UAS systems like Rafael's LiteBeam. Esh-Tech asserts its technology can effectively neutralize drones constructed from both plastic and metal, and mitigate weather-related limitations.
Key Takeaways
- Esh-Tech's DroneLight uses a 4kW pulsed laser, significantly lower power consumption than competitors (Rafael LiteBeam uses 10kW).
- The pulsed laser approach allows for faster 'kill' times (multiple holes created quickly) compared to continuous-wave lasers.
- DroneLight is designed for mobile deployment and is reportedly 3-4x cheaper than existing laser/microwave systems.
- The system is claimed to be effective against both plastic and metal drone components.
- Esh-Tech claims to have developed methods to operate effectively despite atmospheric conditions.
Why It Matters
The development of lower-cost, more efficient hard-kill C-UAS systems is crucial as drone proliferation continues. This technology could provide a significant advantage in contested environments, particularly for nations facing frequent drone threats like Israel. A successful, deployable system like DroneLight could shift the balance in C-UAS capabilities.
Israeli startup unveils laser system it says can kill drones in seconds – Fin Market 5150
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Sunday, June 14
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JERUSALEM — Esh-Tech, a new Israeli defense startup, plans to unveil its DroneLight laser defense system, aimed at countering unmanned aerial vehicles, at this year’s Eurosatory exposition, the company’s CEO told Breaking Defense.
“We are dealing with lasers. From day one, we tried to find a solution to counter UAVs, primarily small drones. We understood this would be the next threat,” Erex Riahi, the CEO of Esh-Tech, told Breaking Defense. “We saw that soft-kill RF [radio frequency] solutions were constantly evolving, and with the rise of fiber optics we understood we needed hard-kill capabilities, so we bet on hard-kill to destroy drones.”
As drones continue to dominate the modern battlefield, countries like Israel, involved in a multi-front war, are looking for counter-drone solutions.
DroneLight, the company noted in a statement, combines “high effectivity with very low energy consumption and a cost structure that is dramatically lower than traditional laser systems.”
The technology is based on a pulsed laser that uses only 4kw of energy.
“It’s a game changer. It’s smaller, uses only 4kWh, can be connected to a vehicle, and is three to four times less expensive than current laser or microwave systems,” Riahi said. (In comparison, Israeli Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ LiteBeam is a laser that uses 10kw.)
“We developed our own lasers using our own technology. Most other lasers are continuous-wave systems that burn the target, meaning you need 10-15 seconds on target,” Riahi said, explaining that pulsed lasers use a higher concentration of energy over a short period of time.
“It’s like shooting, making holes in the target like a bullet, but with light. Nothing goes to the ground, there are no munitions limitations. We do five pulses per second and create multiple holes in a drone, which allows us to kill it efficiently,” he said. According to Riahi, DroneLite can be used on both plastic materials and metal.
Regarding potential issues with weather, Riahi said Esh-Tech “found a way to identify windows in the atmosphere where conditions are better as they change.”
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