The U.S. Navy has used a combat laser weapon called HELIOS for the first time to shoot down drones near Iran. This weapon operates on electricity and has a very low launch cost compared to traditional defensive missiles.
Previously, Iran used inexpensive drones (around 20–30 thousand dollars) to force its opponents to use expensive defensive missiles that could cost millions of dollars, creating a significant cost disparity in its favor.
However, with the HELIOS system, shooting down drones is done at a very low cost and at the speed of light without the need for ammunition or reloading. Therefore, this weapon could change the balance of war and reduce the effectiveness of the strategy of cheap drone attacks.