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EOS partners with Dutch MinDef to develop 100-kW laser system to destroy drone swarms

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EOS partners with Dutch MinDef to develop 100-kW laser system to destroy drone swarms

The Netherlands is partnering with Australian defense technology company Electro Optic Systems (EOS) to develop a high-energy laser weapon designed to destroy drones and counter large-scale aerial attacks.

The Dutch Ministry of Defence announced the partnership on September 24, following the signing of a Letter of Intent by State Secretary for Defence Derk Boswijk. The project aims to turn an existing laser prototype into a fully deployable military air defense system, with potential production in the Netherlands.

The development builds on an existing €71.4 million ($84 million) export contract between EOS and a European NATO member, which the company announced in 2025. The Dutch ministry has not disclosed how much it intends to spend on the new development program or how many systems it plans to acquire.

The weapon under development is based on EOS’ Apollo High Energy Laser Weapon System, a 100-kilowatt-class directed-energy system designed to engage unmanned aerial vehicles.

Unlike conventional air defense weapons, which launch missiles or projectiles at incoming targets, a high-energy laser concentrates light onto a small area of a target. The resulting heat can damage or destroy critical components, potentially causing a drone to ignite, lose control, or become unable to continue flying.

EOS says its Apollo system can engage between 20 and 50 drones per minute, depending on the operating conditions and target characteristics.

The system is designed to address a growing problem for military forces: the cost of defending against inexpensive drones that can be launched in large numbers. EOS CEO Andreas Schwer told ABC News Australia that a drone costing around $1,000 could require a missile costing hundreds of thousands of dollars to intercept.


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