The future of anti-drone and anti-satellite systems is based on microwave and laser systems.

MQ-20 with laser (TWZ)

Today, the systems that destroy drones are based on laser-guided rockets. Those rockets deliver fragments around them. And that should destroy drones. The limit is that if a drone flies very close to infrastructure. Those fragments can cause damage to the power lines and other things. Those rockets can also be used against unarmed targets. Like small vehicles and infantry formations. But the drone defense requires new and more effective systems. The drone swarm can involve thousands of drones. And that means there is a possibility that the defense runs out of ammo. 

The answer to that problem could be microwave and laser weapons. High-flying drones like MQ-20 “Avenger”. It can carry a laser weapon above the battlefield. The laser weapon can shoot down low-flying drones from above. The idea of that system is based on the idea of a laser and an observation platform that can be quite slow. Can fly above the battlefield. 

NKC-135 ALL (Airborne Laser Laboratory)

YAL-1A Airborne Laser in flight with the mirror unstowed.

The Beriev A-60 has quite similar systems. To YAL-1. The Lidar searches the target for the main laser weapon. The weapon can be easily changed, because the system tests different types of lasers. 

That system can shoot down or damage most modern aircraft. The platform itself. Can have solar panels. And electric engines. The system would be made using stealth material. These kinds of systems are hard targets because radar has problems finding them. The laser weapon can destroy incoming missiles. 

There were plans to create high-flying laser planes in the early 21st century. There were many tests using modified Boeing 747 (YAL-1) and NKC-135 aircraft to carry and use laser weapons against ballistic missiles. Russians created the Beriev A-60 plane for the same purpose. The Beriev is still operational. The problem is that even if those systems cannot destroy ballistic missiles. They can be. A very big threat. To the low-flying satellites. 

The high-flying, powerful laser systems can also operate against hypersonic, atmospheric missiles. The laser weapon. That is, airborne at high altitude can operate against both. Drone swarms and low-orbiting satellites. The high-altitude laser systems. They are a threat to the targeting and many other satellites. Those systems can also be used against other aircraft. 

https://www.twz.com/air/laser-guided-rockets-now-primary-anti-drone-weapon-for-usaf-jets-in-middle-east

https://www.twz.com/air/mq-20-avenger-depicted-with-laser-weapon-in-its-nose-a-sign-of-whats-to-come

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airborne_Laser

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beriev_A-60

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_NC-135

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_YAL-1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_MQ-20_Avenger