“Australia and Japan have successfully conducted field trials of a co-developed high-energy laser that could see applications on board ground vehicles and naval vessels, Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said in a release [August 18].”
“The laser, dubbed Project Boobook after an Australian species of owl, was a collaborative effort between Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric Australia (MEA) and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO). The dates of the trial were unspecified in the release.”
“MEA will be investing 70 million Australian dollars ($49.8 million USD) towards establishing new facilities ‘in preparation for large-scale manufacturing within Australia,’ per the release.”
“The new facility at Rydalmere in the western suburbs of Australia’s largest city Sydney will support ‘future manufacturing opportunities in Australia and strengthening access to advanced Mitsubishi Electric defence technologies for the Australian Defence Force into the future,’ according to the release. Conroy added that it ‘is a strong vote of confidence in Australia’s defence industrial future and will support new opportunities for advanced manufacturing, technology transfer and workforce growth’.”
“Marles also said that Australia will ‘accelerate discussions with providing Japan with enhanced access to its missile ranges over the next decade for testing various missiles, including hypersonic weapons’.”
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/08/australia-japan-test-co-developed-high-energy-laser/