A laser weapon capable of accurately knocking down drones has been developed for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) by AIM Defence, a Melbourne, Australia-based company.

The Fractl Portable High Energy Laser is reportedly the first directed-energy weapon that can track targets as small as a dime piece traveling 62 mph at a distance and that has enough power to burn through steel.

Source: AIM DefenceSource: AIM Defence

The suitcase-sized laser — which functions much like a blowtorch moving at the speed of light using what the company claims is the world’s most advanced tracking and optics system — can reportedly target a drone moving at 62 mph from 0.62 miles away, the company explained.

The laser beam, which is roughly the size of a dime, can target drone components like the rotor, wiring and camera, thereby enabling the retrieval of the device for forensic analysis and operational insights.

“You push a button to track the drone and the computer takes over, then you push another button to ‘pull the trigger’ just like a video game,” said a spokesperson from the ADF in a statement.

Weighing under 110 lb, Fractl is roughly one-tenth the size of similar laser systems currently available, and it is extremely portable and easy to use in assorted operational scenarios.

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