U.S. Air Force Deploys CLWS Laser Weapon in Europe for Layered Counter-Drone Defense.

The U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) is expanding counter-unmanned aerial system capabilities by deploying new defensive equipment and increasing specialized Airman training across its theater. The effort strengthens protection for air bases and critical military infrastructure as drone threats continue to grow in complexity and frequency.

The initiative is part of a broader modernization effort to improve air base survivability against unmanned aerial systems capable of reconnaissance, disruption, or attack. USAFE-AFAFRICA is developing a layered defense that integrates electronic warfare systems, directed energy weapons, and kinetic interceptors, giving commanders multiple engagement options tailored to different types of drone threats while improving readiness across dispersed operating locations.

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Developed by Boeing, the CLWS is a modular high-energy laser available in fixed, containerized and mobile configurations, including installation on light tactical vehicles (Picture source: Boeing)

Rather than relying on a single defensive solution, USAFE-AFAFRICA is integrating a range of sensors and effectors into a unified Counter-UAS network designed to detect, track, identify, and defeat hostile unmanned aircraft. The command also continues to expand training for personnel assigned to Operations Support Squadrons and Security Forces Base Defense Operations Centers, ensuring they can operate these systems while maintaining situational awareness and minimizing risks to friendly aircraft and surrounding infrastructure. According to the command, installation commanders have both the authority and responsibility to defend their forces using these enhanced capabilities.

In a July 22, 2026, statement, USAFE-AFAFRICA confirmed that the Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS) had recently been assessed and deployed to undisclosed locations across the theater. Lt. Gen. Jason T. Hinds, commander of USAFE-AFAFRICA, said that protecting the command’s ability to project combat airpower requires layered and integrated air defense capabilities, adding that personnel have been equipped and trained to operate enhanced systems across Europe and Africa.

Developed by Boeing, the CLWS is a modular high-energy laser available in fixed, containerized and mobile configurations, including installation on light tactical vehicles. This flexibility allows the system to protect permanent air bases as well as dispersed and forward operating locations. Its open architecture also enables integration with existing command-and-control networks and external surveillance radars. Following radar detection and an automated transfer of the track, an operator can visually identify the contact, monitor its movement and, if authorized, engage the target. This human role is particularly important around active air bases, where defenders must distinguish unauthorized drones from friendly aircraft, civilian traffic and birds.

During Boeing’s participation in the 2024 Canadian IDEaS Counter-UAS Sandbox, two CLWS units demonstrated the complete counter-UAS kill chain against several types of targets, including high-performance first-person-view drones and a five-drone swarm. The engagements were conducted at distances ranging from 200 meters to 2.5 kilometers, with fixed and vehicle-mounted systems operating both independently and cooperatively.

Because the CLWS relies on electrical power rather than conventional interceptor ammunition, it offers the potential for a lower cost per engagement while reducing pressure on missile inventories and resupply requirements. Its effectiveness nevertheless depends on several operational factors. Atmospheric conditions, range, cooling requirements and the time needed to maintain the laser beam on a target can all affect performance. These limitations reinforce the need to combine directed energy with electronic and kinetic effectors rather than treating the laser as a standalone solution.

USAFE-AFAFRICA is also evaluating kinetic capabilities for threats that cannot be neutralized through directed energy or electronic attack. Among these is the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), a laser-guidance kit that converts a 2.75-inch, or 70 mm, unguided rocket into a precision-guided weapon. According to the command, a ground-based APKWS configuration was tested in coordination with host-nation authorities and can intercept unmanned aerial threats at ranges of up to approximately six kilometers.

Combined with electronic attack systems capable of disrupting communications between a drone and its operator, the APKWS provides commanders with an additional option against targets that resist jamming, operate with greater autonomy or require immediate physical destruction. The resulting architecture allows defenders to select an effector according to the characteristics of the threat, the surrounding environment and the potential risks to friendly aircraft or civilian infrastructure.

The deployment of the CLWS underscores the growing requirement for persistent counter-UAS protection at air bases, including installations located far from an established front line. Recent conflicts have demonstrated that inexpensive commercial drones, FPV systems and one-way attack systems can threaten combat aircraft on the ground, fuel storage areas, ammunition depots and command facilities at comparatively low cost. Such threats force defenders to maintain continuous surveillance while preserving more expensive surface-to-air missiles for targets that require their greater range or destructive capability.

By integrating electronic attack, directed-energy weapons and kinetic interceptors within the same defensive architecture, USAFE-AFAFRICA intends to match each threat with the most appropriate response. This approach improves the cost balance of counter-UAS operations while reducing reliance on conventional air defense missiles against comparatively inexpensive unmanned aircraft.

The fielding of the CLWS also reflects a broader shift in U.S. and Allied thinking about the protection of military infrastructure in Europe. NATO is separately pursuing greater counter-UAS interoperability through its Layered Counter-UAS Initiative, which focuses on connecting sensors, effectors and command-and-control systems across Allied forces. The USAFE-AFAFRICA statement does not indicate that the CLWS deployments form part of this NATO initiative, but both efforts respond to the same operational requirement for adaptable and integrated defenses.

As unmanned systems continue to proliferate and become more capable, air bases can no longer be assumed to constitute secure rear-area facilities. They are increasingly treated as contested operating locations requiring persistent defenses against reconnaissance drones, one-way attack systems, and coordinated attacks. The operational fielding of the CLWS therefore advances USAFE-AFAFRICA’s counter-UAS posture while potentially providing operational lessons relevant to broader Allied air base defense efforts.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in Security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.