Directed Energy Weapons
Coverage of Directed Energy Weapons in the Nexus archive.
- The Pentagon is spending big on lasers to shoot down hostile drones and cruise missiles
The Pentagon is investing $86 million initially (with a total program max of $847 million) in laser weapons to counter drones and cruise missiles, partnering with nLIGHT Defense and Lockheed Martin Aculight. The goal is to scale power from 150kW to 300-500kW for effective missile defense, leveraging lower-cost, high-speed laser technology.
- The US military wants to showcase battle-ready laser weapons by 2028
The U.S. military aims to demonstrate battle-ready laser weapons at scale by 2028, with a focus on overcoming engineering challenges for mass production. The initiative is linked to President Trump's 'Golden Dome for America' missile shield, which allocates significant funding for directed energy research and development.
- The US Navy is full speed ahead on building a laser fleet
The U.S. Navy is pursuing laser weapons as part of its future fleet strategy, with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle arguing they are necessary for missile defense. However, current Navy warships lack sufficient power generation to support high-energy laser systems, requiring next-generation warships to be designed from the ground up with the necessary power and cooling infrastructure.