Ankara:The Netherlands will invest in laser weapons designed to disable enemy drones, as reported by Dutch public broadcaster NOS.

According to Anadolu Agency, State Secretary for Defense Gijs Tuinman emphasized the increasing necessity for effective defenses against drones due to their growing use in conflicts in the Middle East and recent incidents closer to home. He pointed out that laser systems are more efficient and cost-effective than traditional missiles like the Patriot, especially when facing large numbers of drones.

Last year, the Netherlands signed a contract with an Australian company to develop laser systems in collaboration with the Dutch research organization TNO. Tuinman mentioned that the Defense Ministry is satisfied with a prototype already developed under this project, which could potentially reduce the country's reliance on foreign nations for air defense equipment.

The exact expenditure for the laser systems has not been disclosed by the ministry. The Netherlands' Defense White Paper, released this summer, highlights a significant investment in unmanned systems and defenses against them, with a goal for over half of the military's operational capabilities to be delivered through unmanned systems within five years.