Navy Lasers' First Target: Enemy Drones

Last I heard, a picture-taking "drone" can't "sink" a ship, but an explosive-laden "missile" can.

Sounds like USN has a problem figuring what's leathal and what isn't.

And a missile carrying drone?

Yes, missile carrying drones allow a snap shot upon detection/targeting. I am not up on current capabilities, but I don't think that drones carry missiles heavy enough to endanger any but the smallest of ships, still it doesn't take much to damage exposed systems like radar antennae on a missile cruiser or exposed aircraft on a carrier deck. Hopefully, the watch crew isn't asleep going into a situation where such an attack is possible, but it might be tried. A sea-skimming missle is slightly more likely to sneak thru than a high-flying drone on reconnaisance, but I can see a missle keeping a crew's attention for a short time to allow a drone more observation time. A fast reacting crew with an energy weapon that can wake up and cycle fast enough is a very good answer to events like that. A powerful beam weapon SHOULD be able to destroy a light target like a drone from a far enough distance to minimize the information sent to the drone's command.