Directed-energy weapons (DEWs) have left the screen and page and are entering the battlespace
Jamie Whitney
Oct. 22, 2025
The U.S. Army's P-HEL system uses a high-energy laser to destroy its target instead of using traditional munitions to destroy it. U.S. Army photo by Brandon Mejia.
Progress in laser, microwave, and other directed-energy weapons technologies is enabling militaries to deploy systems that target threats almost instantly, with virtually unlimited ammunition and precise accuracy.
U.S. and allied programs, from the Navy's shipborne HELIOS laser to the Army's Leonidas high-power microwave system, have demonstrated that these tools can complement traditional kinetic weapons, offering scalable and cost-effective solutions against drones, missiles, and other threats.
As global powers accelerate development, engineers are addressing challenges in power scaling, beam control, and thermal management while exploring applications for space-based platforms and hardened electronics. Combined with operational testing, these advances position directed-energy systems as an integral component of modern defense, reshaping both strategy and tactics.
https://www.militaryaerospace.com/sensors/article/55317327/laser-and-electromagnetic-weapons
