Disclosed are battery systems for powering a laser weapon, and methods of thereof. A system includes a battery bank comprising a plurality of cylindrical battery cells electrically connected in series and parallel to form a plurality of modules, wherein an air flow path through each module defined by a spacing between a surface of each battery cell and its neighboring battery cell. Furthermore a control system is configured to provide cooling via airflow from the one or more fans to temperature control the battery modules to prevent the temperature difference between a first side of the battery module and a second side of the battery module from rising above a predetermined threshold while the laser weapon is active and consuming energy from the battery bank.