Video: Navy Uses Lasers to Shoot Down Drones

Does it seem a little like Star Wars? Yes, but it's real, reports Wired.com.

The Navy unveiled video this week showing lasers mounted aboard ships being used to shoot down drones.

Better yet, San Diego sailors played a big role in the development of the technology, called LaWS, for Laser Weapon System.

Space-age yes, but costly? No, reports Wired. Although spending on its development was $40 million, it is estimated that the cost of shooting each laser beam is $1.

Typical onboard weapons systems use artillery that costs at least $5,000 a shot, Navy officials said.

“I have the ability now, with a directed energy pulse weapon, to take out something that may cost millions of dollars, or multi-thousands of dollars, with a weapon round that costs about one dollar to shoot,” Rear Adm. Matthew Klunder said, according to Wired.

The USS Dewey, a guided missile destroyer homeported at Naval Base San Diego, was part of the laser tests, the publication reported. Three drones were shot down from the ship in trials off the coast of California.

The innovation is intended for use as soon as next year, aboard the USS Ponce, out of Norfolk, VA, which is bound for the Middle East. Iran has bragged of its development of drones for surveillance.

For more, see Wired.com.