US military drops $US500 million on war-ready lasers to blast Iranian drones from the sky

US forces are pouring $US500 million into battlefield-ready laser weapons designed to destroy Iranian drones and missiles. The Pentagon says the systems are already being deployed around the Strait of Hormuz, where they can track and burn through hostile targets. Experts say the weapons focus intense beams of light on drones or missiles for several seconds until sensors fail or components melt. The technology has moved rapidly from laboratories to combat testing, with the US Army awarding a massive contract for war-ready laser systems. The lasers have already been tested against cartel drones near the southern border and could reshape how the US defends ships and bases.