Australia’s Electro Optic Systems likely to move HQ, listing to Europe

Europe's race to catch up

Amid mounting security threats from Russia's war in Ukraine, EOS's plan to relocate highlights both Europe's technological gap and its determination to reduce dependence on the US.

The US and China have already fielded laser demonstrators with combat units, though they are not yet deployed at scale. A 100 kW fibre laser system developed by Israel's Iron Beam became the first to be fully deployed in December.

In contrast, Europe's high-energy laser programmes remain largely in prototype or research and development. No European high-energy lasers exceeding 50 kW are in operational service.

EOS, meanwhile, is developing a 300 kW laser system, which it says would allow it to shoot down missiles and rockets, as well as drones.

Germany's Rheinmetall and European missile maker MBDA have demonstrated a 20 kW naval laser system in sea trials, while France's Cilas has tested a two kW system against small drones.

Rheinmetall had planned to start series production of its laser weapon systems in 2029, but is now aiming for an earlier start given the current environment, a spokesperson said.

(Reporting by Maria Rugamer and Hugo Lhomedet. Editing by Matt Scuffham and Mark Potter)