Japan and Australia tout progress on high-energy laser and missile range tests

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi reacts as he talks with Australian defense chief Richard Marles during a news conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday. | AFP-JIJI

Aug 18, 2026

The defense chiefs of Japan and Australia said Tuesday that the quasi-allies had made major progress on a co-developed high-energy laser project, as the two sought to take defense cooperation beyond Canberra’s historic decision last year to buy warships from Tokyo.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his Australian counterpart, Richard Marles, said the partners had marked a “significant milestone” in defense collaboration with successful field trials of the high-energy laser for the Boobook project.

The laser capability can be used on land and sea-based platforms, according to Marles, and offers “greater protection and situational awareness by using laser to optically detect incoming threats.” 

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