Anti-air batteries are a staple feature of frontier cities, where raids by bandits, pirates, and other ne'er-do-wells are a fact of life. In their basic form, these defensive installations consist of one or more laser cannons mounted on a platform with a good view of the sky and a wide field of fire. Due to the fast-moving nature of the targets, cannons mounted in these batteries are often rapid-fire versions of standard laser cannons. As most weapons are manually aimed, with only a little computer assistance, rapid-fire weapons increase the chance of scoring a hit on attacking aircraft. These weapons will include dedicated cooling systems to prevent the cannon barrels from melting due to the intense heat generated during engagements.

On more civilised planets, urban anti-air batteries are often mounted on retractable platforms to better blend into cityscapes and instill a sense of serenity among citizens. These platforms are able to quickly deploy from cover to engage hostile targets in the event of an attack. On more vulnerable planets though, anti-air batteries are a common sight along the perimeter of settlements, enabling them to be quickly brought into action to combat raiders, both in the air and on the ground. Indeed, repeating laser cannons can be as devastating against lightly armoured ground vehicles as they are against aerial targets.