German engineers have developed one of the most powerful laser weapons ever, as it has successfully shot drones out of the sky from a whopping distance of 2 miles away.

The revolutionary weapon utilizes a high-powered 50kW lazer, and is accurate enough to hit a mortar round from 2 miles away, while powerful enough to cut through steel.

Rheinmetall Defense is the firm who developed it, and they say it could eventually become commonplace on the battlefield, and are developing a smaller version that could be taken to the front line to protect troops.

The latest test was conducted at Rheinmetall’s Ochsenboden Proving Groud (EZO) in Switzerland, in snowy conditions and blinding sunlight, and engineers are already drawing up plans to double the power of the laser before its next test.

“The demonstration delivered compelling evidence for the 50kW weapon technology,” a spokesman said.

“A massive, 15mm-thick steel girder was cut through at a distance of 1,000 meters, and the successful shooting down of several nose-diving target drones at a range of two kilometers formed the second major highlight.”

They also tested it by shooting a ball bearing that was the size of a mortar round.

“A steel ball measuring 82 mm in diameter and travelling at approximately 50 m/sec, the target replicated a mortar round,” the firm said.

“The Skyguard fire control unit immediately detected the target, followed by mechanical tracking with the 30kW laser weapon station. 

“At this point, the BFU of the laser weapon module took over, optically tracking the target, which was then engaged and destroyed in flight, leaving no doubt as to the tactical viability of using laser weapons.”

The future of warfare could very well depend on this weapon, so be on the lookout for more news about it.

Jordan Shepherd | Elite.