Weapons

US Navy tests the world's first drone-killing laser capable of blasting targets with 30kW of power

US Navy officers are currently testing the world's first drone-killing laser capable of blasting targets with 30kW of power.

The $40 million (£30 million) super laser moves at the speed of light and is 'more precise than a bullet', according to naval officers.

Live-tests of the new super laser have now begun in the Persian Gulf, and officials have predicted that it will be used in combat by 2020.

The LaWS, which stands for Laser Weapons System, is currently being tested on board the USS Ponce amphibious transport ship.

'It is more precise than a bullet,' Chris Wells, captain of the USS Ponce, told CNN.

'It's not a niche weapon system like some other weapons that we have throughout the military where it's only good against air contacts, or it's only good against surface targets, or it's only good against, you know, ground-based targets - in this case this is a very versatile weapon, it can be used against a variety of targets.'