Australian Army demonstrates Fractl laser weapon in Victoria

The Australian Defense Force (ADF) has tested its Fractl portable high-energy laser at the Puckapunyal Military Area in Victoria.

The Fractl is Canberra's first directed energy weapon designed to neutralize aerial drones traveling at 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour.

Built and delivered by Melbourne-based industrial partner AIM Defensethis ability fires a focused laser with “less than the amount of energy needed to boil a kettle” at the speed of light to burn steel.

This suitcase-sized solution can locate threats as small as a dime at 1,000 meters (3,280 feet).

The ADF wrote that the weapon operated silently and without moving, adding that unfamiliar personnel could also learn the platform within minutes.

“You press a button to follow the drone and the computer takes over, then you press another button to 'pull the trigger', like in a video game,” said ADF Cpl. Patrick Flanagan explain.

“With your index finger, you can quickly change aim between the drone's video camera, the center mass, or one of the propellers.

“It only takes a few seconds to knock out the camera and two or three seconds to deactivate the rotor.”

Weapon with “Endless Magazine”

According to the ADF, an additional Fractl test was conducted alongside armored teams to evaluate the function of the weapon's unmanned aerial system (c-UAS) ahead of the Puckapunyal trial.

“They consumed a lot of ammunition and hit the target at very close range,” Warrant Officer 2 of the ADF Robotic and Autonomous Systems. Eli Léa declared. “There was no margin for error.”

“Laser weapons basically have an endless magazine as long as they're powered.”

“Modern fire control systems specifically designed to track and engage drones are required. »

Prepare for advanced threats

The ADF further highlighted the importance of Fractl and similar anti-drone solutions in addressing the emergence of autonomous aircraft in modern warfare.

“Drones come in all shapes and sizes and you need a variety of tools to defeat the threat,” Lea said.

“Shooting small multi-rotor drones out of the sky is particularly difficult. A directed energy weapon capable of detecting, tracking and engaging these types of targets is part of this toolset.

“The lessons from Ukraine are that drones are a real problem and if we don't do something about it, we're going to have a rude awakening in the next fight.”