U.S. Navy HELIOS laser highlights future of defense technology while interceptor drones fill gaps in weather and range
Sectors & Industries
March 10, 2026
Table of Contents
The U.S. Navy finally has a real-life Star Wars weapon.
It’s called HELIOS, a sixty-kilowatt high-energy laser that travels at the speed of light. It never runs out of ammunition, and each shot costs roughly one dollar.
So if the military now has laser weapons, why is a small defense company like AIRO Group Holdings building thousands of interceptor drones?
The answer is simple.
Even light has limits.
HELIOS was developed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Navy.
The system is designed to destroy airborne threats such as:
A high-energy laser can disable these targets almost instantly.
And unlike traditional weapons, lasers offer a huge cost advantage.
Missile defense systems often use $1 million interceptors to stop drones that cost only $20,000. Laser systems dramatically change that equation.
As long as a ship has electrical power, a laser can keep firing.
This is known as a “deep magazine” defense system essentially unlimited ammunition.
On paper, that sounds like the perfect solution for modern drone warfare.
But there’s a catch.
The biggest weakness of lasers is not technology.
It’s physics.
Laser weapons struggle in bad weather conditions.
Fog, smoke, dust, and heavy rain scatter the beam and reduce its effectiveness. Moisture in the air can weaken the energy reaching the target.
A laser also requires a clear line of sight.
If a drone approaches:
the laser may not be able to engage the threat.
In those scenarios, even advanced laser systems can lose their advantage.
This is where AIRO enters the picture.
The company develops interceptor drones designed to hunt down aerial threats.
One example is the Bullet interceptor drone, which can reportedly fly at speeds approaching 300 miles per hour.
Unlike lasers, interceptor drones are not limited by weather or line-of-sight restrictions.
They can:
In a layered defense system, the roles are different.
Laser systems defend the inner perimeter, providing rapid, low-cost interception when conditions allow.
Interceptor drones form an outer defense network, chasing targets that lasers cannot reach.
Modern military strategy increasingly combines multiple technologies rather than relying on a single weapon.
This hybrid approach integrates:
The goal is to create overlapping protection layers.
AIRO’s interceptor systems extend the defensive perimeter, while laser weapons like HELIOS handle close-range threats efficiently.
This layered approach improves reliability in real combat scenarios where weather, terrain, and swarm attacks complicate defense.
AIRO’s technology is gaining attention partly because it fills the operational gaps that laser weapons cannot cover.
The company is reportedly sitting on about $190 million in backlog orders, reflecting growing demand for drone-based interception systems.
To scale production, the company recently opened a large manufacturing hub in Phoenix, aimed at expanding output of interceptor drones.
As global conflicts increasingly feature drone swarms and low-cost UAV attacks, defense agencies are investing heavily in systems capable of countering them.
Laser weapons are rapidly advancing and will likely become a core part of military defense systems.
But they are not a complete solution.
Weather conditions, line-of-sight limitations, and long-range threats mean other technologies remain essential.
That’s why the Pentagon is investing in both laser systems and autonomous interceptor drones.
The formula is straightforward.
Lasers for clear conditions and rapid defense.
Interceptor drones for everything else.
As drone warfare continues evolving, the interaction between these technologies could define the next generation of military defense systems.
If you’re tracking the defense technology revolution, watching how these systems work together may be just as important as watching the weapons themselves.
Watch the full video here:
Join LevelFields now to be the first to know about events that affect stock prices and uncover unique investment opportunities. Choose from events, view price reactions, and set event alerts with our AI-powered platform. Don't miss out on daily opportunities from 6,300 companies monitored 24/7. Act on facts, not opinions, and let LevelFields help you become a better trader.
AI scans for events proven to impact stock prices, so you don't have to.
LEARN MORE