IT’S HELL TO PAY… HEL-Enabled C-UAV Hard-Kill

Europe’s drone threat is growing rapidly, particularly for NATO members, matching the pace at which Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has established itself as a leader in hard-kill counter-drone capability. Slinger, EOS’ combat-proven C-UAS RWS, is widely regarded as one of the strongest kinetic options on the market. EOS has now broadened that capability with Apollo, a 100 kW high energy laser that made its debut to European defence audiences at DSEI in London this September.

Against this backdrop, ESD speaks with Dr Andreas Schwer, CEO of Sydney-based EO Systems (EOS), to discuss how hard-kill counter-drone technology is developing and to understand what European forces may require as they head into 2026.

How did EOS’ expertise evolve?

Dr Andreas Schwer (Schwer): EOS began in the 1980s working on precision tracking and laser technologies under the Strategic Defense Initiative. That foundation in stabilisation, tracking and beam control has guided every product since.

As threats evolved, especially with the rise of drones, we adapted that core technology to deliver accurate, repeatable hard-kill effects. Each iteration improved our sensors, software and fire control, and those cumulative lessons are what underpin our systems today.

ESD: Why does EOS focus the C-UAS part of its business on hard kill? What advantages do you see over soft-kill approaches?

Schwer: Soft kill has a role, but it does not always resolve the threat. We see in Ukraine that many drones now fly autonomously or are pre-programmed, which means jamming is not effective.

In those cases, the only reliable option is to physically defeat the drone. Hard kill provides certainty, and it does so at a cost that can be sustained. Militaries need solutions that work under real conditions, and that is where hard kill is essential.

ESD: Taking that into account, how did EOS move from its firepower enhancing and kinetic C-UAS assets to Apollo?

Schwer: Moving into lasers was a natural progression for us. We have decades of experience in high-energy laser technology, precision tracking and stabilisation, so the step to a high energy laser was logical.

Customers are looking for deeper magazines, faster engagements and lower cost per shot, particularly against saturation attacks. Apollo sits alongside our kinetic effectors and gives commanders another reliable hard-kill option that is sovereign, scalable and ready for operational deployment.

ESD: A laser is not a silver bullet for a hard kill C-UAS solution. Can you walk us through how Apollo is used against drones, from identification to termination?

Schwer: The process is straightforward. The sensors detect and classify the target, the system generates a stable track, and the laser is cued to the aimpoint. The beam holds dwell until the effect is achieved. Apollo can process multiple engagements quickly, up to 30 engagements per minute, and provides 360-degree coverage. It complements kinetic systems and forms part of a wider layered architecture.

ESD: What are Apollo’s limits and where does it deliver advantages that other approaches cannot?

Schwer: Every effector has limits. Weather can influence laser performance, for example. But where conditions support laser use, Apollo delivers high precision, rapid engagement and very low cost per shot. It performs exceptionally well against small drones and high-volume attacks where traditional magazines are a constraint.

We are also bringing an interceptor capability into the portfolio. It is a fast, agile, low-collateral effector designed to take on intelligent targets at ranges out to roughly five kilometres. It uses onboard imaging, an infrared seeker and AI-based guidance, and it can operate autonomously if required. It sits neatly between cannon systems and lasers and extends the reach of the architecture.

Thanks to its unique design it is cheaper than any comparable system. Importantly, it integrates with the same detection- and tracking software we use across Slinger and Apollo, and a variant can be side-loaded onto our weapon stations. It simply adds another practical hard-kill option within the layered approach.

ESD: When discussing limits and employment, there is sometimes speculation about personnel use of high energy lasers. Within today’s legal and operational boundaries, how should this be viewed?

Schwer: The legal framework is clear. These systems are developed and fielded for counter-drone missions. That is the requirement our customers give us, and that is how they are used. Speculation beyond that does not reflect doctrine or rules of engagement. Our focus is delivering systems that meet the operational, legal and ethical standards set by governments.

ESD: Looking ahead, how is EOS developing its C-UAS assets in the next few months and across the next two to four years as forces place greater emphasis on cost and resource efficiency?

Schwer: Cost per engagement is becoming a decisive factor.

We are investing in automation, integration and scalable production so these systems can be fielded widely and sustained affordably.

The need for reliable hard kill will only increase, and our focus is on delivering a layered architecture that gives forces the flexibility to match the effector to the threat, whether that is a cannon, a laser or an interceptor. The direction is clear. Customers want sovereign, scalable and cost-effective capability, and that is exactly where we are investing.

ESD: Thank you, sir.

By Merl Wachtberg

Electro Optic Systems

Apollo Laser

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