The U.S. Navy has integrated Xbox-style game controllers into its ship-based laser weapon systems. These units are currently deployed on warships in the Strait of Hormuz, where they have been utilized to neutralize drone threats and other targets.
Laser weapon systems offer significant cost advantages over traditional anti-aircraft missiles and close-in weapon systems. A single laser engagement is estimated to cost approximately $13 in electricity, whereas conventional missiles can cost thousands or millions of dollars per shot.
These systems function independently of conventional ammunition, relying instead on the electrical power generated by ship turbines or nuclear reactors. This capability allows for sustained defense operations as long as the vessel maintains power and the hardware remains operational.
The U.S. Navy previously tested similar laser technology on the USS George H.W. Bush supercarrier. Additionally, the Royal Navy is currently installing comparable systems on its destroyers, with operational status expected by next year.
