The onboard laser required 110 pounds of chemicals and equipment for every kilowatt of laser, and the laser was approximately in the megawatt class. A similarly armed, high altitude laser drone would be a different story.
A few days ago, the US set their new interceptor missile tests and is looking to deploy laser weapons (https://www.htpow.com/300mw-green-hi...er-p-1038.html) . Upon launching strikes, wing-mounted seeker optics receive the reflected laser energy. The laser weapon can also pierce the outer skin of a drone, taking out key circuits and making it crash.
It has a fully integrated laser system been able to successfully shoot. As lasers don't run out of bullets, this discovery could be a cost effective solution for the military. It has been a key collaborator on laser-focused research.
It may suggest a new niche application for 300mw Green Laser weapons. For the new UAV, the MDA is looking for the next generation of laser technology. It must also be able to provide a steady 140 to 280 kW of power to the payload laser system it is carrying.