Marlborough company creates laser defense system to tackle drone threats
Photo | Courtesy of Army Spc. Amy Carle, U.S. Army National Guard
Ukrainian soldiers pack up a drone used for aerial observation in September 2018. Drones have become ubiquitous on modern battlefields, necessitating the creation of equipment like IPG's new laser-based defense system.
Marlborough-based firm IPG Photonics is launching a high-energy laser defense system designed to tackle the growing threat of unmanned aerial systems.
The CROSSBOW MINI 3 kW high-energy laser system is set to make its public debut at the Defence and Security Equipment International UK conference in London in early September, according to an IPG press release issued Wednesday. The device uses directed energy beams to disable drones and has applications for both military and private security uses.
“The CROSSBOW product line establishes IPG as a complete laser defense systems provider,” Ben Allison, vice president of IPG Defense Products, said in the press release. “It transitions us from a component supplier to a full solution partner, delivering top-tier software, optics, and lasers in a single operational package while leveraging our extensive manufacturing capabilities and laser expertise.”
The system seeks to address the growing threat of drones on both the battlefield and in private security situations. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has shown drones are now a major aspect of modern conflict, with an estimated 70% of frontline casualties in the war being drone-related, according to The Guardian.
IPG’s CROSSBOW system has a 12-hour internal battery and can operate as a standalone system or integrated into larger defense networks. The system has neutralized over 100 drones in scenarios including both single and swarm attacks, according to the press release.
The system’s use of direct-energy technology comes as a number of countries and defense-focused firms are developing weapons which use highly-focused energy, such as lasers or microwaves, instead of solid projectiles, according to the RAND research organization.
Founded in 1990 in Russia, the firm moved its headquarters to Oxford in 1999. The company later relocated its headquarters to Marlborough before divesting from Russia in wake of its invasion with Ukraine. IPG has over 30 facilities worldwide and produces high-power lasers and amplifiers used in a number of industries.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the manufacturing and real estate industries.
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