The rapid growth of small drones has exposed a gap in short-range air defence. Electro Optic Systems (EOS) developed complementary counter-drone systems to close that gap – the Slinger remote weapon system delivering a kinetic effect proven in combat, and a high energy laser weapon capability providing engagement at the speed of light. Together they form the basis of EOS’ layered approach to drone defence.
Slinger was developed to meet growing demand for a precise, kinetic counter-drone capability. It is based on EOS’ R400 remote weapon system, known for its accuracy and high first-hit probability – qualities that are critical when the engagement window is only a few seconds.
The system has been deployed in Ukraine and used in both frontline and infrastructure-protection roles. It has proven effective against a wide range of drone types, including Shahed variants.
Dr Andreas Schwer, Group CEO of EOS, notes: “Over two hundred Slinger systems are in service in Ukraine, providing valuable data on how drone warfare is evolving. Drones have become smaller, faster and more numerous, often operating in coordinated swarms. Feedback from the field continues to inform our development priorities, refining automation, accuracy and overall performance.”
Slinger is designed to operate in both networked and stand-alone configurations and provides flexibility across a range of operational scenarios. One of the key lessons from Ukraine has been the value of designing systems that can function effectively whether integrated into a broader air-defence network or operating independently. That experience is shaping EOS’ next generation of platforms, with greater emphasis on sensor integration, faster targeting and system autonomy when networked support is limited.
Slinger combines precision sensors, targeting software and a 30 mm cannon into a fully integrated remote weapon system optimised for counter-drone operations. It can be fitted to a range of vehicles, from unmanned ground systems to main battle tanks, and configured for containerised or fixed-site defence. The modular design allows integration with radar, EO/IR sensors and soft-kill technologies, and supports data-sharing across wider command networks.
Dr Schwer summarises the logic behind the system: “Shooting down a two-thousand-dollar drone with a five-hundred-thousand-dollar missile simply does not make sense. Our clients are looking for highly precise, affordable alternatives, and that’s where our technology comes in.”
Counter-Drone Defence at the Speed of Light
EOS developed Apollo to provide a high energy laser capability that engages drones instantly and repeatedly, without ammunition limits or reload time, extending layered counter-drone defence into the laser domain.
Dr Schwer explains: “The laser can engage multiple targets in quick succession, shoot directly upwards and operate with a technically unlimited magazine. Unlike electronic-warfare systems, which may disrupt a drone’s control or navigation without guaranteeing destruction, the laser delivers a physical kill that eliminates the threat regardless of its guidance method or level of autonomy.”
With power levels between 50 and 150 kilowatts, Apollo provides full 360-degree coverage, including vertical engagement, and can neutralise more than twenty Group 1 UAS per minute within a range of up to three kilometres. It can operate continuously when connected to external power or use stored energy for independent missions.
Apollo is designed to work alongside other counter-drone assets, including EOS’ own Slinger remote weapon system, as well as rocket systems and long-range missiles. Each layer addresses a different engagement range and target set, with the laser excelling in short-to-medium-range, high-volume defence against drones and similar aerial threats.
Beyond performance, Apollo represents a fully sovereign capability. It is ITAR-free, with all technology and intellectual property owned by EOS. The system can be fully localised, with complete technology transfer where required, allowing customers full control over production, sustainment and future upgrades.
EOS has signed the first export contract for a 100-kilowatt-class high energy laser weapon system with the Netherlands, a NATO member that will be the first to field this level of capability. Production will take place at EOS’ Laser Innovation Centre in Singapore, which will also support operator training and sustainment.
High energy lasers extend the reach of kinetic systems, using concentrated light to defeat targets without ammunition. Together, Slinger and Apollo create a layered defence through shared sensors and command networks that respond rapidly to complex aerial threats.
“Laser technology has moved from the laboratory to the field,” Dr Schwer adds. “As it matures, it will become a core component of modern drone defence – complementing kinetic systems and providing an effective and economically sustainable way to counter evolving aerial threats.”
