STORY: :: File:: Electro Optic Systems (EOS)/HandoutThe Australian-based company making these laser weapons may soon call Europe home in a strategic pivot that could boost Europe’s defense buildup and offer a cost-effective countermeasure for Ukraine.:: Kyiv, Ukraine:: January 9, 2026Electro Optic Systems or EOS plans to relocate its headquarters and stock market listing to Europe within a year which if done, would make them the first major defense company to move permanently to Europe.It produces the Apollo high-energy laser weapon which uses an invisible and silent beam of light to burn through targets, sending drones tumbling to the ground.:: Kharkiv region, Ukraine:: FileCEO Andreas Schwer claims it’s a superior and much less expensive alternative to conventional rockets, missiles and guns in countering the growing threat of drone warfare.:: Ukrainian Air Force”The laser is extremely cheap because there is no ammunition supply needed. You can shoot down a drone for the cost of the energy, which is between $1 and $5 per shot. // The cost of a missile is about $500,000 on average. The cost of a rocket, $30,000 to $40,000. The cost of a cannon-based engagement usually uses proximity ammunition, but you still have a burst of about 10 rounds. So, it’s still about $20,000 to $40,000 per kill. And you can easily add this up.”High-energy lasers are not yet fully battle-tested. Rain, fog and dust can severely degrade the effectiveness of the beams, while substantial cooling and energy demands make frontline use hard to predict.EOS’s product could get a real-world test in Ukraine. Schwer says it has received requests for the Apollo weapon from the Ukrainian government but has yet to find a country willing to foot the bill, despite offering discounted prices.SCHWER: “We are happy to support Ukraine with all that we can do.”:: Ukrainian Air ForceHe adds that most of their Western European partners want to test and verify the system themselves before funding it for Ukraine.The U.S. and China have already fielded laser demonstrations with combat units, though they are not yet deployed at scale.And Europe’s high-energy laser programs remain largely in prototype or research and development.Control of IP is also emerging as a central issue in Europe’s defense buildup as NATO allies move away from their dependence on U.S.-made weapons.EOS owns all its IP, which is based in Singapore – where it benefits from their export rules and enables it to transfer the tech to clients.“Not any military component has its origin in the US. That is mandatory, not only for NATO countries, but also for Asian and Middle Eastern countries.”Schwer says EOS production and engineering facilities are already being set up in Germany, and that they are in talks with 10 European governments about future orders.
