#laser-weapons

All articles tagged with "laser-weapons"

Pentagon Says Laser Weapons Are Near Scaled Demonstration

The Pentagon’s top research official says the science behind directed-energy weapons is largely settled, with the next challenge being mass-producible systems and a major demonstration tied to Golden Dome.

Key Takeaways

The Pentagon says laser weapon science is largely done and engineering scale is now the main hurdle.
Directed energy is tied to the planned Golden Dome missile shield.

DT Editorial Team·May 31, 2026·via fastcompany.com

FAA and Pentagon clear path for border laser-drone defenses after safety review

A new FAA-Defense Department agreement could enable more regular domestic use of high-energy lasers against drones after a joint safety assessment found no undue risk to passenger aircraft.

Key Takeaways

Defense News reports a new FAA-DoD safety agreement covering laser use against drones.
The review followed two February incidents that led to airspace shutdowns in Texas.

DT Editorial Team·Apr 14, 2026·via defensenews.com

Pentagon Signals a Major New Push in Directed-Energy Weapons Research

A preliminary read of the Pentagon’s fiscal 2027 budget request suggests more than $2 billion could go toward high-energy laser and related directed-energy research, marking a significant escalation in ambition even as采购

Key Takeaways

The Pentagon’s fiscal 2027 request suggests more than $2 billion for directed-energy R&D.
Dedicated procurement appears limited even as research spending rises sharply.

DT Editorial Team·Apr 12, 2026·via fastcompany.com

Britain’s DragonFire timetable points to a faster path for laser weapons

A reported 2027 timeline for DragonFire suggests the UK is trying to move directed-energy systems out of demonstration mode and toward operational use.

DT Editorial Team·Apr 3, 2026·via interestingengineering.com

Military

The US Army has decided not to advance its 300-kilowatt Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser system to a program of record, abandoning what would have been the most powerful operational laser weapon in its arsenal and revealing the persistent engineering gap between directed energy ambitions and battlefield reality.

DT Editorial Team·Mar 24, 2026·via defensenews.com

Military

Facing asymmetric drone warfare in the Middle East, the US Department of Defense has set a concrete 36-month mandate to deploy directed energy weapons at scale — ending decades of perpetual delays with an operational deadline backed by presidential attention.

DT Editorial Team·Mar 24, 2026·via c4isrnet.com

Military

US lawmakers have disclosed that a military directed-energy laser system destroyed a Customs and Border Protection drone, exposing dangerous gaps in airspace coordination for weapons testing.

DT Editorial Team·Mar 15, 2026·3 min read·via c4isrnet.com

Military

A Pentagon task force will conduct a live laser weapons test targeting drones, advancing the military's directed energy counter-UAS capabilities.

DT Editorial Team·Mar 7, 2026·3 min read·via c4isrnet.com

Military

An FAA airspace closure over El Paso after a laser counter-drone weapon was fired highlights how U.S. policy is struggling to keep pace with the rapidly evolving drone threat.

DT Editorial Team·Feb 14, 2026·2 min read·via twz.com

Military

The USS Preble has successfully used its 60-kilowatt HELIOS laser weapon system to shoot down four unmanned aerial targets, marking a milestone for directed-energy weapons at sea.

DT Editorial Team·Feb 11, 2026·6 min read·via navalnews.com