US troops are using reconfigured Xbox-style controllers to operate laser weapons deployed in the Strait of Hormuz, where the systems are being used to take down drones and incoming cruise missiles, according
to a report by the New York Post.
The unusual combination of gaming technology and battlefield weaponry is part of the US military’s decades-long effort to develop directed-energy weapons. The New York Post reported that the US Department of War recently confirmed the deployment of the systems, which can destroy incoming threats more cheaply than conventional missiles.
How The Laser Weapons Work
The technology draws energy from generators or battery packs and converts it into light particles known as photons. The photons are then concentrated into a single beam and directed at a target.
The beam heats the surface it hits until the object melts or explodes. The laser itself is only visible under infrared light and cannot be seen by the naked eye.
The system can track and target drones with precision, allowing operators to focus the beam on specific parts of an aircraft, including its sensors, until it is disabled or destroyed.
The laser needs to remain focused on the target for several seconds, a process known as “dwell time”, to deliver enough energy to bring it down.
From Laboratory To Battlefield
The US programme to develop military laser technology has been around for about 50 years. It has now moved beyond laboratory testing, with the military deploying the technology in real-world environments.
The US Army has awarded a contract worth about half a billion dollars to build war-ready laser systems, according to the New York Post.
The technology has also been tested against drones along the US southern border. The Joint Task Force Southern Border has used laser systems against drones operated by Mexican drug cartels, with at least 11 drones reportedly brought down.
Why Xbox Controllers?
The systems are operated using reconfigured Xbox-style game controllers rather than specially designed military controls.
The idea is based on technology that is already familiar to soldiers and can be used to control the laser without requiring an entirely new specialised interface.
The New York Post reported that soldiers have been able to operate the weapons after relatively limited training.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also took part in a laser weapons demonstration at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico in June. He used a controller to operate the system and shoot down a drone after a short period of training.
60-Kilowatt Laser Systems
The laser weapons deployed in the Middle East are large and heavy, meaning they need to be mounted on battleships rather than carried by individual soldiers.
The systems are known as High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance, or HELIOS. They reportedly use a 60-kilowatt high-energy laser designed to destroy incoming threats.
Most of the footage of the systems shows them being tested or used against smaller drones. Boeing has also announced a Compact Laser Weapon System capable of taking on Group 3 drones, which can weigh up to 1,300 pounds.
Could Lasers Change Warfare?
Laser weapons could eventually change military logistics because they do not depend on conventional ammunition in the same way as missile-based systems.
Experts cited by the New York Post said solid-state lasers have relatively few moving parts and could potentially provide a powerful defensive system as their range and energy output increase.
The technology has so far been used against drones and other hardware. Experts cited in the report said there is no indication that the systems deployed in the Middle East and along the US southern border have been used against human targets.
For now, the US military is testing how far the technology can go — with an Xbox-style controller in the hands of the operator and a high-powered laser on the battlefield.
