Pentagon awards deals for laser weapons that could shoot down drone swarms
Defense officials have long-touted the benefits of directed energy systems such as their high-speed engagement, low cost-per-shot and deep magazines.
By
Jon Harper
The Defense Department has awarded other transaction agreements to nLIGHT Defense and Lockheed Martin Aculight for directed energy weapons as the military seeks new tools for zapping adversary drone swarms and cruise missiles, the Pentagon announced Thursday.
The deals, valued at $86 million, will support the Joint Laser Weapon System program, spearheaded by the Pentagon’s Research and Engineering directorate.
Defense officials have long-touted the benefits of DE systems such as their high-speed engagement, low cost-per-shot and deep magazines. However, despite their promise, the Pentagon has historically struggled to transition such platforms from research and development to larger-scale production and fielding.
Scaled directed energy (SCADE) is one of six Critical Technology Areas that the R&E undersecretariat is working to advance under Pentagon CTO Emil Michael, as the military looks to push into production more cost-effective means of thwarting drone swarms and other threats.
https://defensescoop.com/2026/07/09/pentagon-joint-laser-weapon-system-defeat-drone-swarms/
