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US Selects Laser and Microwave Weapons to Combat Rising Drone Threats
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News18•06-10-2026, 10:30
US Selects Laser and Microwave Weapons to Combat Rising Drone Threats
- •The United States Department of War has chosen four high-energy laser and high-powered microwave weapon systems for operational evaluation to counter unmanned aerial vehicle threats.
- •The selected platforms include AeroVironment's Palletised High-Energy Laser, Epirus' Leonidas High-Powered Microwave system, Kord's Firefly High-Energy Laser, and Boeing's Compact Laser Weapon System.
- •The pilot initiative is managed by Joint Interagency Task Force 401 to test directed-energy capabilities in an operational environment for homeland defense.
- •Directed-energy weapons provide an alternative to traditional missiles, with lasers using thermal energy and microwaves disrupting electronic circuitry.
- •An independent directed-energy competitive demonstration is scheduled for December at the Dugway Proving Ground in Utah to evaluate additional innovations.
Key Questions Answered
The Department of War selected four high-energy laser and high-powered microwave systems for operational evaluation: AeroVironment’s Palletised High-Energy Laser, Epirus’ Leonidas High-Powered Microwave system, Kord’s Firefly High-Energy Laser, and Boeing’s Compact Laser Weapon System.
Joint Interagency Task Force 401 manages the directed-energy pilot initiative, coordinating strategies and testing these capabilities in an operational environment to understand how best to integrate and sustain them for homeland defense.
An independent directed-energy competitive demonstration is scheduled for December at the Dugway Proving Ground located in Utah to appraise alternative high-energy laser and microwave assets.
