The 2025 Japan Defense and Security Equipment International Expo was held from May 21 to 23 at the Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Center in Chiba City. Kawasaki Heavy Industries unveiled the concept for a ship-based high-power laser system at the event. A demonstration video showcased a 100-kilowatt laser system mounted on the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Aegis destroyer and the "Mogami" class destroyer, successfully intercepting a high-speed incoming drone.
In the field of anti-drone laser weapons, Kawasaki Heavy Industries is developing a 100-kilowatt high-power system, while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has been advancing the development of a 10-kilowatt vehicle-mounted system. This marks the first public unveiling of Kawasaki Heavy Industries' ship-based laser weapon concept for Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels.
According to a Kawasaki Heavy Industries spokesperson, the company delivered a land-based laser weapon system to the Defense Equipment Agency two years ago, and the ship-based version is currently in the testing phase. The spokesperson told the Naval News website that developing a ship-based high-power laser weapon system will take several years and expressed hope to formally participate in the Defense Equipment Agency's research and development projects.
At the Japan Defense and Security Equipment International Expo held in March 2023, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries first exhibited a 10-kilowatt laser device, which successfully intercepted a drone 1.2 kilometers away.
Reports indicate that the Ministry of Defense has allocated 18.3 billion yen (approximately US$127 million) in the 2025 fiscal year budget to advance the development of ship-based laser weapon systems. The Ministry of Defense explained in its budget documents: "Japan will develop a ship-based high-power laser weapon system adapted to maritime environments and capable of addressing threats from small drone swarms."
Additionally, the Ministry of Defense has allocated 3.4 billion yen in this year's budget for research into vehicle-mounted laser devices. Japan has been advancing research into vehicle-mounted laser devices up to the 2024 fiscal year, but the documents note that "further research is needed to enhance capabilities to counter future air attack threats."
The Ministry of Defense has also allocated 800 million yen in the budget to advance research on high-power microwaves (HPM). Unlike lasers, which emit linear beams, microwaves spread in a conical pattern and can counter drone saturation attacks with a single beam. On the other hand, Japan will also consider scenarios where the enemy may change frequencies and take targeted countermeasures. Research in the microwave field has been led by NEC Corporation. In July 2024, the Japanese Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense reached an agreement to launch a six-year joint research project on high-power microwave systems.
The Maritime Self-Defense Force is advancing the construction of two new Aegis-equipped ships, with high-power laser weapon systems expected to be deployed after 2032. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is constructing the first Aegis-equipped ship, while the second is being built by Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU), with the aim of commissioning them in the 2027 and 2028 fiscal years, respectively.
Given that the "Kongou" class destroyer is nearing retirement, it can be assumed that its successor will also be equipped with the laser weapon system. JMU unveiled the concept model of the successor ship, designated DDGX (170 meters in length), at the exhibition, featuring a laser weapon system on the upper part of the bridge and one system on each side of the aft deck, totaling three laser systems.
Another successor ship concept model, comparable in size to a general-purpose frigate with a length of 150 meters, also features a laser weapon system on the upper part of the bridge.
According to statistics from the Defense Ministry's Joint Staff Headquarters, the Air Self-Defense Force conducted multiple emergency takeoffs to intercept drones from neighboring countries in the 2024 fiscal year, with the number of intercepts showing a sharp increase compared to previous years.
Given Japan's current anti-drone capabilities and the regional situation, Japan must accelerate the deployment of countermeasures such as high-power laser weapon systems to enhance its ability to address drone threats.
