What early naval lasers might do against surface targets

What is the practical limit of warship lasers against small boats and surface drones?

They may eventually defeat such targets, but early systems face energy, thermal, aim-point, atmospheric, and target-layout limits that make first-generation performance uncertain.

A laser's quoted power is only the beginning of the engineering question. DragonFire is the example under discussion, with its deployment date still treated cautiously. A surface craft has more room to separate important systems than a small aerial drone, and the result depends on where the beam hits and how quickly it delivers heat. Water and wave interference complicate that heating process, while thermal blooming adds an atmospheric limitation. Theoretical ability to damage a surface target does not justify relying on the first operational generation to defeat it consistently. Trials establish that a weapon works under test conditions; routine service reveals maintenance and design problems that only appear when crews have to live with it.