Weapons counter measure method and apparatus

A directed-energy weapon counter-measure method for deflecting, away from a platform, the path of focused electromagnetic energy emitted by a directed-energy weapon system, the method comprising providing an electromagnetic radiation source and a control system communicably coupled thereto, the method further comprising dividing an atmospheric volume into a matrix of three dimensional portions, configuring said control system to generate an atmospheric element operative to deflect focused electromagnetic energy within an atmospheric volume located in said path of said focused electromagnetic energy by causing electromagnetic radiation from said source to be applied to a selected plurality of three-dimensional portions of said atmospheric volume so as to heat and/or ionise the air within said portions, wherein said selected portions are spatially located together in a substantially unbroken, three-dimensional configuration to generate the atmospheric element.