South Korea demos Cheongwang laser air defense vs drones

Hanwha demonstrated two directed-energy counter-drone systems (stationary Cheongwang Block-I and a ~30 kW vehicle-mounted laser) successfully shooting down target drones in a South Korean Army exercise. The novelty is operationally deployed laser air defense being exercised as part of a layered C-UAS stack (laser + EW jamming + kinetic fire), highlighting a low-cost-per-shot alternative to missiles for defeating small UAVs.