Story perspectives

Trump Proposes Cost-Effective Lasers to Counter Iranian Drones

3/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump says high-energy lasers could replace Patriot missile systems as a cheaper defense against Iranian drones targeting Middle East oil refineries and U.S. bases.
Each laser shot costs about $3.50, far less than roughly $3 million per missile interceptor.
Experts warn that scaling this technology for military use may take years.
Challenges include maintaining a lock on targets for several seconds and potential weather or multi-drone issues.

History

Historical Context

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan announced the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), advocating for advanced missile defense technologies, including laser systems. This initiative emerged from earlier proposals, such as Project Excalibur, which aimed to use X-ray lasers for intercepting missiles. Today, discussions about replacing costly missile systems with high-energy lasers reflect ongoing challenges in military technology and defense strategies, echoing historical hurdles from the Cold War era.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump says high-energy lasers could replace Patriot missile systems as a cheaper defense against Iranian drones targeting Middle East oil refineries and U.S. bases.
Each laser shot costs about $3.50, far less than roughly $3 million per missile interceptor.
Experts warn that scaling this technology for military use may take years.
Challenges include maintaining a lock on targets for several seconds and potential weather or multi-drone issues.

1 / 2