Japan has taken a major step into the era of directed-energy warfare by successfully testing a 100-kilowatt laser weapon aboard a 6,200-ton naval warship. The system demonstrated its ability to cut through metal targets and shoot down drones mid-flight, confirming that high-energy lasers are now practical tools for modern defense. Unlike traditional missile-based air defense, laser weapons fire at the speed of light, require no physical ammunition, and cost only the electricity used per shot. Th