Pentagon Awards $86 Million for Laser Weapons to Combat Drone Threats

The Department of Defense has awarded contracts worth $86 million to nLIGHT Defense and Lockheed Martin Aculight for the development of directed energy weapons. These agreements aim to bolster the Joint Laser Weapon System (JLWS) program, which seeks to counter drone swarms and cruise missiles through high-speed engagement capabilities. The initiative is part of a broader effort by the Pentagon’s Research and Engineering directorate to advance critical technology areas that offer cost-effective solutions against emerging threats.

Emil Michael, Undersecretary for Research and Engineering at the Department of Defense, emphasized the importance of rapid deployment of these systems to protect both military installations abroad and domestic sites from drone attacks. The growing use of unmanned aerial systems in conflict zones such as Ukraine and the Middle East has heightened concerns about their proliferation and potential impact on future battles.

Initially, the JLWS prototypes will deliver approximately 150 kilowatts of power but are designed to scale up to a range between 300-500 kW for more robust defense against cruise missiles. The Pentagon plans to integrate these systems into both ground and naval platforms using containerized form factors that allow for rapid fielding across various combatant commands.

The development of these laser weapons represents a significant step towards creating a multi-tiered defense framework that combines kinetic and non-kinetic tools, providing military commanders with flexible options in defending against drones and missiles. This approach underscores the Pentagon's commitment to leveraging advanced technology to address evolving security challenges while ensuring operational readiness across different domains.