I Sea-skim~ing cruise missiles pose the greatest threat to a surface ship in the present-day war scenario. The convei1tionallclose-in-weapon-systems (CIWSs) are becoming less reliable against these nelw challenges rJquiring extremely fast reaction time. Naval Forces see a high energy laser as a feasible andjeffective directed energy weapon against sea-skimming antiship cruise missiles because of its .ability to deli'ler destructive energy at the speed oflight on to a distant target. The paper compares the technology and capability of deuterium fluoride (DF) and chemical-oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) in effectively performing the role of a shipborne CIWS altainst sea-skimming missiles. Out of these two lasers, it is argued that DF laser wo.uld be more effective a,s a shipborne weapon for defence against sea-skimmin,g cruise missiles. Bes~des the high energy laser as the primary (killing) laser, other sub-systems required in the complete weapon system would be: A beacon laser to sense phase distor'ions in the primary laser, adaptive optics to compen~ate the atmospheric distortions, beam-directing optics, illuminating lasers, IRST sensors, surveillance and tracking radars, interfacing systemsl etd.ani urgent need to develop new technologies to defend the ships against such menacing threats. A high energy laser is one of the most effective close-in-weapon-system (CIWS) to meet such threats. The present article reviews capabilities of two lasers, viz., deuterium fluoride2 (DF) and chcmical-oxygen-iodine laser3 (COIL), in effectively performing the role of a shipborne C;IWS against sea-skimming .hissiles.