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Directed Energy Weapons Are Real . . . And Disruptive
In the 1951 science fiction film, “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” powerful ray guns are shown vaporizing rifles and even tanks. In the Star Wars movies, a wide variety of directed energy weapons are depicted, from handheld light sabers to massive, spaceship-mounted laser cannons.
What exactly is a directed energy weapon? Are these weapons still science fiction, lab experiments, or are they real? How can they be used and how disruptive can they be? What are the challenges and next steps? This article will examine answers to these questions.
What are Directed Energy Weapons?
According to DOD’s Joint Publication 3–13 Electronic Warfare, directed energy (DE) is described as an:
umbrella term covering technologies that produce a beam of concentrated electromagnetic energy or atomic or subatomic particles. A DE weapon is a system using DE primarily as a direct means to disable, damage or destroy adversary equipment, facilities, and personnel. DE warfare is military action involving the use of DE weapons, devices, and countermeasures to either cause direct damage or destruction of adversary equipment, facilities, and personnel, or to determine, exploit, reduce, or prevent hostile use of the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) through damage, destruction, and disruption.
DE weapons include high-energy lasers, high-power radio frequency or microwave devices, and charged or neutral particle beam weapons. Microwaves and lasers are both part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which includes light energy and radio waves. The distinction between them is the wavelength/frequency of the energy. While they are both part of the electromagnetic spectrum, laser and microwave weapons operate very differently and have very different effects.
Think of the difference between a laser pointer and a flashlight. The laser light is coherent in a single color, and the flashlight is broad-spectrum light. Because of its coherence, laser light can stay concentrated for very long distances—even thousands of miles into space. But with laser weapons, instead of thinking in terms of a laser pointer, the mental image should be more like a powerful, long-range blowtorch!
Lasers can be categorized as gas, solid state, or a hybrid of the two. The lasers on the current path to weaponization include solid state combined fiber and crystal slab as well as hybrid lasers. Fiber lasers are lasers in which the active medium being used is an optical fiber that has been doped in rare elements, most often Erbium. Slab lasers represent one class of high-power solid-state lasers in which the laser crystal has the form of a slab. Hybrid lasers such as a diode pumped alkali laser use a combination of trace gas with semiconductor diode arrays for even higher power and efficiency.
The destructive power of directed energy weapons (their lethality) derives from the amount of energy transferred to the target over time. This concentrated energy can have effects across the entire spectrum from non-lethal to lethal. For example, lasers can cut through steel, aluminum, and many other materials in a matter of seconds. They can be very effective in causing pressurized vessels to explode such as missile propellant and oxidizer tanks. They can destroy, degrade or blind many other systems that contain sensors and electronics. For high energy lasers, lethality depends on the power output of the laser, the purity and concentration of the light (beam quality), the target range, the ability to keep the laser on the target aimpoint (jitter control and tracking), and the atmospheric environment the laser traverses to the target. In this last factor, the frequency of the laser and the engagement altitude will have a significant impact on how much the atmosphere effects the laser’s lethality. Laser energy can be generated as a continuous wave or in pulses, which also influences its lethality. High-energy lasers (HEL) can range from a few kilowatts to megawatts of average power.
High-power microwave (HPM) and high-power millimeter wave weapons emit beams of electromagnetic energy typically from about 10 megahertz to the 100 gigahertz frequency range. Like lasers, HPM weapons can operate in a pulsed or continuous manner and are classified using “peak” or “average” power respectively. Most HPM systems are based on short pulses of radiofrequency (RF) energy, for which peak power is the important metric. The antenna gain of the weapon system is also very important, and when combined with the power of the RF source, yields the Effective Radiated Power (ERP) of the weapon. Depending on the particulars of the weapon, and how it is used, ERP levels can reach into the hundreds of gigawatts or higher. For continuous wave systems, which use high average power to effect targets, levels are typically from 50 to 100s of kilowatts up to several megawatts of power. The power levels are driven by prime power generation limitations, and ERP’s depend on the antenna design and aperture (i.e., size).
Almost everyone has probably experienced the “lethality” of a microwave device when they inadvertently put a metal object into a kitchen microwave oven and watched the “sparks fly.” This same energy can be applied at higher powers for weapon effects. There are numerous pathways and entry points through which microwave energy can penetrate electronic systems. If the microwave energy travels through the target’s own antenna, dome, or other sensor opening, then this pathway is commonly referred to as the “front door.” On the other hand, if the microwave emissions travel through cracks, seams, trailing wires, metal conduits, or seals of the target, then this pathway is called the “back door.”
In the weapons version, the microwave energy effects or lethality depends on the power and range to target, but the energy beams tend to be larger and not as sensitive to jitter as is the case for the high energy lasers. HPM lethality can be affected by atmospheric conditions as well, but to a much lesser degree than high-energy laser (HEL) weapons. HPM weapons lethality is typically described in terms of their ability to deny, degrade, damage or destroy a target’s capabilities.
The term “deny” is defined as the ability to eliminate the enemy’s ability to operate without inflicting harm on the system. A microwave weapon can achieve this result by causing malfunctions within certain relay and processing circuits within the enemy target system. For example, the static and distortion that high voltage power lines have on a car radio causes no lasting damage to the radio after the car leaves the area. Thus, the “deny” capability is not permanent because the affected systems can be easily restored to their previous operational condition.
The meaning of “degrade” is to remove the enemy’s ability to operate and to potentially inflict minimal injury on electronic hardware systems. Examples of this capability include signal overrides or insertion, power cycling (turning power on and off at irregular intervals) and causing the system to “lock-up.” These effects are not permanent because the target system will return to normal operation within a specified time, which obviously varies according to the weapon. In most cases, the target system must be shut off and restarted, and may require minor repairs before it can operate normally again.
The idea of “damage” is to inflict moderate injury on enemy communications facilities, weapons systems, and subsystems hardware, and to do so in order to incapacitate the enemy for a certain time. Examples include damaging individual components, circuit cards, or the “mother boards” in a desktop computer. This damage may create permanent effects depending upon the severity of the attack and the ability of the enemy to diagnose, replace, or repair the affected systems.
Finally, the concept of “destroy” involves the ability to inflict catastrophic and permanent injury on the enemy functions and systems. In this case, the enemy would be required to totally replace entire systems, facilities, and hardware if it was to regain any degree of operational status.
In addition to being able to scale effects on a target, directed energy weapons have inherent attributes that are attractive to the warfighter. These include:
speed of light engagement which makes responsiveness and tracking much faster than kinetic weapons;
deep shot magazines which are only limited by the electrical power supplied to and re-generated by the system;
“stealth-like” performance (quiet and invisible beams) that are hard to detect or intercept;
precision targeting for both lethal and non-lethal applications; and
low-cost per shot compared to traditional munitions.
Directed energy weapons have been in development for decades in our nation’s research and development organizations, national laboratories and industry. So how close are they to becoming weaponized?
Are Directed Energy Weapons Still Science Fiction, Lab Experiments or Ready for the Warfighters?
In early versions of laser weapons, the light was generated by chemical reactions. Between 2000–05, a prototype chemical laser successfully destroyed 46 rockets, artillery shells and mortar rounds in flight during field tests. However, these lasers were generally large and heavy. In fact, the megawatt-class Airborne Laser developed in the late 1990s and early 2000s required an entire 747 aircraft to hold the equipment. Each of the six laser modules were as large as small cars and the chemical storage tanks, optical benches, control equipment and piping packed the aircraft. In 2010, the Airborne Laser shot down two missiles (both solid and liquid propelled) in their boost phase during flight testing which demonstrated the lethality of the laser against missile targets. We proved that the technology could be effective, but its size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements made the laser weapons impracticable to field.
Today, solid state electrical (including fiber) and hybrid lasers are being developed that are much lighter and smaller. The combination of technology advancements improving lethality and reducing SWaP in high energy laser technology and the advent of threats such as hypersonic weapons for which kinetic solutions are problematic has resulted in high energy lasers and directed energy weapons more generally being pursued vigorously across the services consistent with the National Defense Strategy.
In recent years the U.S. Navy deployed a 30kW class solid state laser weapon system (LaWS) prototype on the Afloat Forward Staging Base, USS Ponce. It was capable of damaging or destroying fast attack boats, unmanned aerial vehicles and was used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). When the LaWS was being integrated onto the ship, the designers and developers envisioned that it would be used several hours a day. It turned out that during its three-year deployment, from 2011–14, it was used nearly around the clock in its ISR mode.
Because of the strategic imperative to protect U.S. carrier battlegroups to enable us to project power, the U.S. Navy is following this prototyping effort with a much broader “Navy Laser Family of Systems” or NLFoS program, which will put the Navy on a path to develop and deploy lasers ranging from low power laser “dazzlers” to much higher power lasers capable of destroying anti-ship and high-speed cruise missiles. Examples of NLFoS weapons include: a 60kW laser called HELIOS (High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance) expected to be deployed by 2021 that will be capable of burning through small boats and shooting down drones; the SSL–TM (Solid State Laser–Technology Maturation system), which will eventually be a 150kW laser weapon on the LPD–27 amphibious ship; and the ODIN (Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy) that will also go on a destroyer.
The U.S. Army has also been moving out aggressively in developing and deploying directed energy weapons as part of its Air and Missile Defense modernization priority. Within that priority area, the Army is focused on the use of high energy lasers to provide Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) and Maneuver—Short-Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD). The Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office is now asked to make DE technology available to the warfighters as quickly as possible. Building on the Army’s DE efforts during the past 5 to 7 years, the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) is committed to fielding 50kW lasers on four Strykers (eight wheeled armored fighting vehicles), delivering a residual combat capability at the Platoon level as part of the M-SHORAD mission in support of a Brigade Combat Team.
Building a Stryker with a 50kW laser is a follow-on to the 5kW laser the Army tested on the vehicle just a year ago in Germany at the Joint Warfighting Assessment and related efforts. DefenseNews in their coverage of the March 2018 Booz Allen Hamilton/CSBA Directed Energy Summit in Washington highlighted the remark by Colonel Dennis Wille, the Army G3 strategic program chief for U.S. Army Europe, that over the weekend the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment (supported by the 7th Army Training Command and the Fires Center of Excellence at Fort Sill, Oklahoma) had conducted a live-fire engagement of the 5kW Mobile Expeditionary High-Energy Laser demonstrator at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany. This is just the beginning of a plan to deploy 50kW lasers on four of its Stryker vehicles over the next few years for operational use.
A fire support noncommissioned officer with 4th Division Artillery, 4th Infantry Division, who participated in the testing of a 2kW version of the laser vehicle at Fort Sill, Oklahoma against unmanned drones was quoted in a February 28, 2018 Army Times article as saying, “It was extremely efficient, I was able to bring them down as [fast as] they were able to put them up.”
The Army used Navy-, and Air Force- developed HPM weapons during recent conflicts to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These devices have also been demonstrated to stall or damage car, truck, or boat motors. This capability would be very useful at checkpoints or for stopping escaping vehicles.
In 2017, the Air Force Secretary and Chief of Staff signed the DE Flight Plan outlining the path ahead for the Air Force to develop and deploy both high-energy lasers and high-power RF weapons for its aircraft. This plan includes a program which aims to test high energy lasers on aircraft against surface to air and air to air missile threats. Similar to the Army’s RCCTO and the Navy’s Accelerated Acquisition (AA) Process, the Air Force is leveraging both Air Force Research Laboratory’s DE Directorate and Air Force Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation Office to expedite delivery of capabilities to address key capability gaps identified in the DE flight plan: Forward Base Defense, Precision Strike, and Aircraft Self-Protect. In addition, the Air Force has partnered with the Navy in the development of a high-power RF weapon called High-power Joint Electromagnetic Non-Kinetic Strike (HiJENKS) capable of attacking electronics, communications and computer networks.
The Air Force also recently demonstrated the ability of an HPM weapon to bring down multiple drones in testing at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, according to a recent Military.com article:
“After decades of research and investment, we believe these advanced directed-energy applications will soon be ready for the battlefield to help protect people, assets and infrastructure.” Thomas Bussing, Raytheon Advanced Missile Systems vice president, said in a news release accompanying the announcement. The release noted the HPM and HEL systems engaged and defeated “dozens of unmanned aerial system targets” during the exercise.
But by far, the most ambitious program underway in DOD is being led by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). It is developing a very high-power laser capable of being eventually deployed on a space-based platform to target missiles during their boost/ascent/midcourse phase. This laser would be megawatt class and have a range of hundreds of miles.
The first step in this endeavor is underway with funding for laser scaling and beam quality improvements for both combined fiber lasers as well as hybrid lasers such as the diode pumped alkali laser or DPALS. These lasers, combined with significant improvements in computational power, represent dramatic advances in technology over those used in the Airborne Laser program. The laser diodes, fiber amplifiers, battery and power management, thermal control, and optical systems are also much more advanced.
The United States will soon be reaching the point where it can generate a megawatt of power in a size, weight, and volume capable of being put on a high-altitude aircraft or space-based platform. As DOD works to develop and incorporate these technologies, much of the work should be collaborative, such as improvements in materials, power generation, thermal control, etc. to reduce size, weight, and power required to operate these weapons. However, the wide variety of missions, platforms, and implementation environments necessitates continued service-differentiated development activities. This also includes fundamental differences such as the wavelength of the lasers and the beam quality required for success.
For example, a Navy ship-to-air laser will have different requirements than an Air Force air-to-air system, which will have different requirements than a space-based missile defense system and therefore different technological considerations. Discrete, mission-aligned efforts will maintain our pace of development in the race to get these technologies to the field.
How Can They Be Used and How Disruptive Can They Be?
Some applications of directed energy weapons to solve today’s challenges have already been described, such as stopping swarms of small adversary boats which have been harassing U.S. ships in international waters, or stopping vehicles carrying improvised explosive devices at a safe distance from U.S. personnel. As another example, high energy lasers could be used to protect forward-deployed troops and bases from attacks by swarms of unmanned aircraft carrying explosive devices.
But let us broaden these applications somewhat. In addition to the nuclear ballistic missile threat posed by North Korea, which can be defended by U.S. missile defense systems, there is a North Korean threat which cannot be defended against today . . . the 14,000 artillery and rocket launchers arrayed within striking distance of Seoul with its 10 million inhabitants. Imagine how much the geopolitical calculus would change on the peninsula if a layered, integrated system of high energy lasers and high-power microwave weapons was deployed to defend against these threats.
Turning to the air, the United States spent billions of dollars to develop and deploy stealth technology for its fighters and bombers to avoid radar detection and being targeted by surface to air missiles. What if the United States could deploy effective anti-missile lasers on its’ aircraft to defeat any missile(s) fired at them? In effect, the United States would have provided “stealth-like” capability to entire fleets of aircraft.
In a much more dramatic application, the recently released Missile Defense Review (MDR), the first update to U.S. Missile Defense Strategy in nearly a decade, delivers a visionary plan to protect the United States from ever-intensifying threats around the world. For example, the MDR proposes that the Missile Defense Agency study the potential to develop and field space-based lasers to intercept ballistic missiles.
Space-based lasers would have a profound impact on the U.S. ability to defend and if necessary, fight in space. Not only could they be used to defend against ballistic missiles in the boost/ascent and midcourse phase, but they could also be used to defend critical space-based assets against enemy anti-satellite attack.
Directed energy weapons could also play a key role in defending against what has been described as the number one threat to the United States by the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Dr. Mike Griffin—hypersonic weapons. He has pressed for the development of hypersonic weapons by the United States as well as a defense against them. In a March 6, 2018 speech, said, “I’m sorry for everybody out there who champions some other high priority, some technical thing; it’s not that I disagree with those,” he told the room, “But there has to be a first, and hypersonics is my first.”
There are two types of hypersonic weapons, boost glide and air-launched high-speed cruise missiles. Boost glide weapons are launched atop ballistic missiles then released to glide to the target. The air-launched uses scramjets or rockets to power it throughout flight. These high-speed missiles fly at Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) and greater. They can not only achieve these speeds but can maneuver at them as well including varying trajectories, headings and altitudes. Therefore, currently deployed defenses against ballistic missiles will not be effective in defending against these non-ballistic threats. There is no “silver bullet” defense against these weapons and in fact there will have to be an architectural approach in defending against them, but directed energy weapons can potentially play a major role.
Since these weapons maneuver, the United States needs to be able to precisely track the hypersonic missile throughout its entire flight or “birth to death.” The only cost-effective way to accomplish this is using space-based satellites. Developing hypersonic interceptors will also be an option in the U.S. defense architecture. But there is a rule of thumb that states that an interceptor needs to be capable of three times the speed of the target it is defending against to be able to maneuver to destroy it. So hypersonic kinetic interceptors would have to be capable of achieving speeds of Mach 15 and higher.
One of the greatest attributes of directed energy weapons is that they operate at the speed of light. So, for a hypersonic weapon that is travelling at 25 times the speed of sound, a high- energy laser can engage it at roughly 35,000 times its speed. This makes targeting and tracking easier as well. Space-based high energy lasers could be brought to bear especially in the boost/ascent phase of boost glide hypersonic missiles where a high-energy laser could destroy the vehicle early in its trajectory. At the speeds that these hypersonic missiles fly, they have vulnerabilities which could be exploited by directed energy weapons. Therefore, HELs and HPMs could also play a role in the midcourse/terminal phase of both types of hypersonic missile flight.
Directed energy weapons are no longer just science fiction. They are real and are maturing rapidly. In the next several years, the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force all plan to develop and field these weapons at an increasing pace. They will be deployed on land vehicles, aircraft, helicopters, and ships.
Even the most conservative market projections for directed energy weapons indicate nearly $30 billion being spent by the United States during the next ten years. They are not the answer to all the challenges, and will not replace kinetic weapons, but they are an essential adjunct to countering specific threats and providing dominance in land, air, sea, and space. The United States has the technology, the resources, the talent, and the infrastructure to develop and deploy directed energy weapons to meet today’s and tomorrow’s emerging threats.
The only question is whether the United States and its allies will achieve that dominance before an adversary does.
What Are the Challenges and Next Steps?
The United States has come a very long way in the development of directed energy weapon capabilities and is now at a critical juncture. The technology is maturing rapidly, threats are emerging which directed energy can almost uniquely address, and the warfighters are signaling their support.
However, as with the development of any unprecedented military capability, there are risks, challenges and limitations involving their cost, schedule and performance. In the case of directed energy weapons, there has been significant risk reduction which has been accomplished over several decades. Examples of this cited earlier included the Airborne Laser, the Navy’s LaWS program, and others. However, risks, challenges and limitations remain.
For example, atmospheric conditions such as turbulence, haze, clouds, etc. can affect a laser’s performance but there are ways to address these phenomena. First, the choice of a laser’s wavelength can help to mitigate the affect because different laser wavelengths perform much better in the atmosphere than others. And of course, lasers employed at higher altitudes or in space would have very little to no atmospheric affects.
In addition, a technique known as “adaptive optics” has been developed for many years. In this case, the laser weapon system would sense the atmospheric conditions to the target, then using fast steering mirrors, it would deform the main laser beam as it leaves the weapon to use the atmosphere to the target much like the lens of a pair of glasses to refocus the beam on the target. Increasing laser power and improving the beam quality can also help to mitigate atmospheric effects in many cases.
Challenges remain in terms of the size, weight and power input requirements of today’s laser systems, especially in the thermal control and power management subsystems. But again, there are major advances in these areas being made especially with the technology that has been developing in the electric car industry.
When using laser weapons, the warfighters will need new situational awareness and battle management tools because of the potential long-range effects to avoid friendly systems fratricide. But again, advances in computational power coming out of the gaming industry (such as graphics processing units) and artificial intelligence coming from autonomous automobile development can be instrumental in providing these needed capabilities.
While the development costs of directed energy systems can be high, there are several factors in play which can reduce these costs or at least provide better return on the investment over the life cycle. For example, as mentioned earlier, directed energy weapons development can take advantage of progress being made in commercial industry around processors, power generation and management and even lasers subsystems themselves.
In addition, the “cost per shot” of a directed energy weapons could be orders of magnitude less expensive than current kinetic weapons. Consider that today the United States will launch kinetic interceptors at an incoming threat warhead that cost tens of millions of dollars and multiple interceptors are fired for maximum probability of success. Compare that to a high energy laser which could kill multiple threat missiles with a single “magazine” charge for a tiny fraction of the cost. In addition, while you are firing on one power source, you can be charging another for near continuous operation.
More importantly, peer and near-peer nations are developing these weapons at an alarming rate. The United States must realize that it has to resource the development and fielding of these capabilities. The United States cannot allow itself to fall behind in yet another area of warfighting as has happened in hypersonics.
To maximize the United States’ ability to field DE weapons, here is a ten-part approach to get us going in the right direction:
Power Scaling and Improved Beam Quality. DOD should significantly scale up laser power and improve beam quality; as well as develop higher power compact microwave weapons. The pace of maturing these capabilities is not “technology limited;” it is “funding limited,” therefore the United States should ensure that funding for directed energy weapon development supports the needed developments. Levels of $3 billion or above per year should be maintained.
SWaP Reduction. The United States should accelerate efforts to reduce the size, power input, weight, and cost requirements of these weapons. Since the most demanding size, weight and power inputs requirements are in the missile defense arena, MDA laser programs should be fully funded to increase laser power levels for high-altitude and space-based applications.
Warfighter Tactical Decision Aids. DOD should provide warfighters with tactical decision aids to ensure they know how and when to use these weapons. This will go far toward instilling confidence in the warfighters that these weapons will be effective in combat against multiple threats. These aids would include a guide to their effectiveness, similar to what the Joint Munitions Effectiveness Manual does for kinetic weapons.
Lethality. The Office of the Secretary of Defense should fund a program to focus broadly on improving understanding of microwave and laser weapon lethality. While a tremendous amount of work has been done, DOD should also conduct further research to enhance understanding of laser and high-power microwave lethality and reliability across an increasing range of weather and atmospheric conditions. This research should also focus on minimizing any collateral damage.
Accelerated Acquisition. DOD should accelerate acquisition of DE capabilities using non-traditional practices. According to Griffin, at the 9th Annual Defense Programs Conference in March 2018, DOD takes an estimated 16.5 years to bring new technologies from statement of need to deployment. But there are several examples where the timelines have been dramatically shortened such as the Navy’s Rapid Prototyping Experimentation and Demonstration (RPED) program for mission-critical capabilities and the use of specialized acquisition authorities by the MDA. DOD should use such accelerated processes for DE development and deployment.
Long-term Commitment. DOD must signal a long-term commitment to directed energy, so the industrial base will know there will be a market for its products in the coming years. In doing so, DOD should prepare, and encourage, the industrial base to support the rising need for first-, second-, and third-tier suppliers.
Testing Infrastructure. DOD should provide the needed testing infrastructure for directed energy weapons especially as they can achieve longer and longer ranges. This needs to include rapid airspace deconfliction capabilities.
Increased Collaboration. All parties involved in directed energy development should continue to talk to each other. Significant progress has been made in communication and collaboration across the technical community through their involvement in the Directed Energy Professional Society (DEPS) and by the HEL Joint Technology Office. DOD needs to better articulate its requirements for deployable lasers. But also, the industrial base must interface better with DOD and its leadership to increase understanding of innovative laser weapon capabilities.
Training. DOD must also prioritize warfighter training. There is currently no established directed energy training pipeline; that is because laser and microwave weapons have no formal programs of record (PORs). Once the PORs are set up, training must follow. To assist in establishing PORs, DOD should encourage wargames and operational analysis to investigate and better articulate the battlefield benefits of lasers.
Command and Control. DOD should adapt command-and-control functions to address rapidly evolving threats, such as hypersonics, to reduce the engagement times of defensive systems. Very short engagement timelines will likely necessitate the incorporation of artificial intelligence capabilities to help the United States leverage the speed-of-light engagement that directed energy weapons offer.
These are steps to take to bring directed energy prototype systems to the warfighters. The brave men and women who confront dangerous threats across all physical domains—land, air, sea, and space—need nothing less than the world’s most promising new capabilities to protect U.S. national security. Adversaries are not waiting to develop directed energy weapons. Neither should we.
Directed energy weapons (DEWs) are transforming defense technology through systems that deliver precise, rapid, and cost-efficient engagement against a wide range of threats. These advanced solutions utilize focused electromagnetic energy, such as lasers and microwaves, to disable or destroy targets with exceptional accuracy and minimal collateral damage.
The growing demand for high-performance, next-generation defense systems is accelerating investment in DEWs. According to Kings Research, the global directed energy weapons market is projected to reach USD 21.46 billion by 2031, reflecting rising adoption across major defense programs worldwide.
This blog highlights the top 10 companies leading innovation in the DEW market. These organizations are advancing the development of laser, microwave, and electromagnetic weapon systems that are shaping the future of defense and security operations.
What are Directed Energy Weapons?
Directed energy weapons (DEWs) engage and destroy enemy assets and threats by using concentrated electromagnetic energy. High-energy lasers and high-power electromagnetic devices, such as millimeter wave and microwave weapons, are included in this category. DEWs can have advantages like transient and reversible effects, in contrast to conventional weapons. They are able to disable or stop electronic systems without destroying them.
Top 10 Companies in the Directed Energy Weapons Market
1. Lockheed Martin Corporation
Known for its work on laser weapon systems, Lockheed Martin is advancing directed energy technologies with projects like the HELIOS system, which was designed for the U.S. Navy to counter drone threats. They are also working on integrating high-energy lasers into air and ground defense platforms.
In October 2023, Lockheed Martin Corporation was selected by the U.S. Army to develop and deliver up to four 300 kW-class solid-state laser weapon systems for the IFPC-HEL (Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser) prototype program.
2. Boeing
Boeing has developed the "CHAMP" (Counter-electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project), which uses microwave energy to disable electronic systems. This technology shows promise in directed energy for disabling enemy electronic devices without causing physical harm.
In October 2024, Boeing announced that its Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS), a 5-kilowatt laser system, successfully engaged and defeated Group 3 uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) (drones weighing up to 600 kg) during the RED SANDS Integrated Experimentation Center Exercise held in Saudi Arabia.
3. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd
Rafael is one of the leading companies developing advanced laser-based defense systems. Their Iron Beam laser defense system is capable of intercepting short-range threats such as missiles and drones.
In June 2025, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems unveiled the new beam-director variant of the IRON BEAM high-energy laser weapon system in cooperation with the Israeli Ministry of Defense. The upgraded director enhances the system’s operational range, accuracy, and engagement speed, enabling improved interception of aerial threats.
4. Rheinmetall AG
Rheinmetall's latest innovations include laser weapon systems designed to protect military assets. The company is integrating directed energy into its advanced defense solutions, particularly for countering drones and artillery.
In September 2024, Rheinmetall AG and MBDA Deutschland GmbH signed a cooperation agreement to continue their collaboration in the laser weapons sector. The agreement aims to bring a joint maritime drone-defense laser system to the market within five to six years, leveraging their complementary expertise in laser weapon technology.
5. MBDA
MBDA has focused on developing hybrid systems that integrate directed energy with traditional defense capabilities. Their work on laser-guided munitions has shown significant progress in enhancing precision targeting.
In October 2025, MBDA Deutschland GmbH and Rheinmetall AG transferred a laser-weapon demonstrator to the German Armed Forces’ Technical Centre for Weapons and Ammunition (WTD 91) in Meppen, following more than 100 live-firing tests aboard the frigate F124 Sachsen. The system is aimed at use by the German Navy by 2029 and is intended primarily for defense against drones, drone swarms,
6. RTX (Raytheon Technologies)
RTX has made strides with its High Energy Laser (HEL) systems, focusing on using lasers for missile defense and protection against aerial threats. Their systems are integrated into military air, sea, and ground defense.
In December 2024, Raytheon UK, a division of RTX, announced that its High‑Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) was successfully fired by the British Army, engaging and neutralizing moving aerial targets during a trial at a UK Ministry of Defense range in Wales.
7. BAE Systems
BAE is involved in developing both high-power microwave and laser systems for defense applications, with a focus on developing flexible and scalable directed energy solutions for various military platforms.
In July 2025, BAE Systems, in conjunction with SURVICE Engineering and other partners, carried out live-fire trials in which the multi-rotor drone variant TRV‑150 (based on the Malloy T‑150) successfully launched a precision‐guided munition equipped with the APKWS laser‑guidance kit against both aerial and ground targets.
8. Northrop Grumman Corporation
Northrop Grumman is involved in various directed energy projects, including high-powered lasers for missile defense. Their work on directed energy aims to provide robust countermeasures against advanced threats.
In August 2023, Northrop Grumman delivered a miniaturized, 10 kW-class high-energy laser system known as the “Phantom” to the U.S. government. The system is approximately 12 ft³ and weighs less than 200 pounds, enabling two personnel to lift, carry, and install it in tactical scenarios.
9. Elbit Systems Ltd.
Elbit focuses on integrating directed energy into its UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and other defense systems. They are particularly working on high-powered laser systems for defense against incoming missiles and drones.
10. Honeywell International Inc.
Honeywell is innovating in the field of directed energy with advanced systems aimed at enhancing protection for military and defense systems. Their directed energy solutions focus on air and space defense.
The Role of Innovation in the Growth of Directed Energy Weapons Companies
Innovation is a key driver of growth for companies in the directed energy weapons (DEW) market. Rapid technological advancements are enabling the development of more sophisticated and efficient DEW systems, giving companies a competitive advantage in a dynamic market.
Additionally, innovation is helping companies tackle challenges effectively. By adopting creative strategies, they can lower development costs and ensure compliance with stringent regulations. This proactive approach enables them to navigate obstacles while capitalizing on emerging opportunities in the DEW sector.
Moreover, innovation is unlocking new avenues for growth. Beyond defense applications, DEWs hold potential in various other industries, and companies are leveraging innovative solutions to explore these possibilities. This diversification broadens their offerings and propels their long-term growth. Collectively, these advancements are fueling the expansion of the directed energy weapons market, as nations and defense firms increasingly prioritize next-generation energy-based systems to strengthen national security and strategic deterrence.
Trends in the Directed Energy Weapons Market
The directed energy weapons (DEWs) market is experiencing significant growth and evolution, driven by advancements in technology and increasing defense budgets worldwide. Below are some key trends shaping this market:
Growing Defense Investments: Nations are allocating more funds for directed energy weapon programs due to their potential for precision targeting, reduced collateral damage, and cost efficiency over traditional munitions. For instance, the U.S. Department of Defense and other countries like China and Russia are heavily investing in DEW development for both offensive and defensive purposes.
Rising Demand for Laser Weapons: Laser-based DEWs are the most developed category, offering high precision and scalability. They are being integrated into platforms like naval ships, fighter jets, and ground vehicles for applications such as anti-drone, anti-missile, and counter-mortar operations. For instance, Lockheed Martin’s High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) is being tested for naval applications.
Integration with Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS): With drones becoming a major threat in modern warfare, DEWs are increasingly used to neutralize UAVs. Their speed, precision, and ability to operate silently make them ideal for counter-drone operations. For instance, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems developed the Drone Dome, a laser-based C-UAS system.
Focus on Non-Lethal Applications: Governments and law enforcement agencies are exploring non-lethal DEWs for crowd control, border security, and vehicle-stopping systems. Microwave weapons and acoustic weapons are examples of technologies gaining traction in this segment.
Miniaturization and Platform Integration: Advancements in energy storage and generation are enabling the miniaturization of DEWs, making them easier to deploy on smaller platforms like drones and mobile vehicles. This trend is expected to expand their tactical utility.
Enhanced Power Sources: The development of compact and high-capacity power sources is crucial for scaling DEWs. Technologies like solid-state batteries and compact nuclear power sources are enabling longer operational cycles for these weapons.
Shift to Autonomous DEWs: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in DEWs is enabling autonomous targeting and operation. AI-driven systems can detect, track, and neutralize threats with minimal human intervention.
These trends indicate a growing reliance on DEWs for modern warfare, emphasizing their role in future military strategies and technological innovations.
Bottom Line
As directed energy weapons continue to evolve, the companies highlighted in this blog are at the forefront of driving advancements in this field. Their cutting-edge technologies promise to revolutionize military operations, providing more efficient, cost-effective, and precise solutions for a wide range of applications. The directed energy weapons market is poised for robust growth as innovation accelerates and defense agencies worldwide adopt these systems to enhance capability, resilience, and tactical advantage. These leading companies will continue to shape the trajectory of this transformative defense segment.
Directed Energy Weapons offer advantages such as high speed, precision, and the potential for lower cost per shot compared to traditional weapons—the future of weaponry lies in DEWs
India successfully tested the Mk-II (A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) this April at the National Open Air Range (NOAR) in Kurnool. The 30 kW (kilowatt) laser weapon designed to neutralise drones, UAVs, and other aerial threats puts India in a select group of nations with this capability. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) trial demonstrated the system’s ability to disable surveillance sensors and cause structural damage to drones.
DEWs are a type of ranged weapon that use concentrated energy, rather than physical projectiles, to damage or disable targets. This energy can be in the form of lasers, microwaves, or particle beams. DEWs offer advantages such as high speed, precision, and the potential for lower cost per shot compared to traditional weapons, but they also pose challenges related to atmospheric conditions and potential long-term health effects. The world’s leading defence companies are working towards DEWs. DEW could also use a beam of sound for crowd control and other policing functions.
Directed Energy Weapons
DEWs emit highly focused electromagnetic energy, which is directed at the target, causing damage by heating, melting, or disrupting electronic systems. The specific type of energy used determines the wavelength and how effectively it can penetrate different materials. High-Energy Lasers (HEL) can be continuous or pulsed, delivering power outputs as low as 1 kW. Their precision allows them to target and melt metal, plastic, and other materials. They can be used to destroy or disable drones, missiles, and other airborne threats, as well as to damage or destroy ground-based targets.
Millimetre Wave Weapons (MWW) operate in the 1 to 10-millimetre wavelength range, delivering more than 1 kilowatt of power. They can affect multiple targets simultaneously due to their broader beam. High-Power Microwaves (HPM) generate microwaves with longer wavelengths than lasers or millimetre waves. They’re capable of producing around 100 megawatts of power and can disrupt multiple targets within their larger beam area and can disrupt or disable electronic systems, including those in vehicles, aircraft, and communication systems. Particle Beam Weapons (PBW), which are still under development, could potentially be used to damage or destroy targets at much greater ranges.
DEW Advantages
Advantages of DEWs include action at the speed of light, allowing for near-instantaneous engagement of targets. DEWs are very precise and can be directed with high accuracy, minimising collateral damage. DEWs are highly cost-effective and potentially much less expensive per shot than traditional weapons. DEWs can continue to fire as long as they have a power source, unlike traditional weapons with limited ammunition.
DEWs can be used discreetly; radiation does not generate sound and is invisible if outside the visible spectrum. Light is, for practical purposes, unaffected by gravity and wind, giving it an almost perfectly flat trajectory. This makes aim much more precise and extends the range to line-of-sight, limited only by beam diffraction and spread and absorption or scattering by intervening atmospheric contents. Lasers travel at light speed and have a long range, making them suitable for use in space warfare.
DEWs offer a spectrum of effects from nonlethal to lethal that can be influenced by factors such as exposure time, distance, and target area. Moreover, they can be employed in a graduated manner. Nonlethal responses include temporarily disabling electronic systems or preventing access to specific physical areas or systems, while degradation involves reducing the effectiveness of enemy sensors or electronics. Lethal responses entail destroying or severely damaging targets by focusing energy to melt or incapacitate critical components.
Unlike traditional munitions, DEWs can offer benefits such as temporary and reversible effects. They can degrade or disable electronic systems without completely destroying them. DEWs are currently moving from the research and development phase to the practical deployment phase. Many countries are investing in DEW technology, and the market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.
DEW Challenges and Limitations
Adverse weather (fog, rain, dust) can interfere with laser beams and reduce their effectiveness. DEWs can lose effectiveness over longer distances due to atmospheric absorption and scattering. Opposing forces can develop countermeasures to deflect or disrupt DEWs. DEWs could potentially cause unintended harm to their own personnel or equipment, and their long-term health effects are not fully understood.
Taking DEWs from development to operational deployment presents challenges. Operationally, wide-beam DEWs can affect both friendly and enemy assets within the area of impact. They may also struggle against well-shielded targets or in environments where line-of-sight is obstructed. Additionally, international norms and regulations related to DEWs are in their infancy and do not offer a clear framework by which to mitigate the risks of their use. Furthermore, there are open-ended questions over the ability of existing industrial supply chains to produce DEW capabilities at scale.
Practical Military Applications
DEWs offer practical air and surface defence applications. Specifically, they are best oriented to counter slower-moving and swarm threats such as drones, rockets, artillery, and mortars by disrupting or destroying their electronic components and guidance systems. DEWs are frequently cited as having potential for missile defence, including against ICBMs, but the technological challenges to such applications are currently prohibitive.
The US Department of Defence claims that DEWs have the potential to counter slower-moving missile threats such as anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles, the basic logic being that DEWs are a lower-cost way to defeat less advanced aerial threats that would allow more expensive interceptors to be saved for the faster and more troublesome ballistic threats that DEWs cannot reliably engage.
It’s also possible that DEW capabilities could be used against enemy surface boats and autonomous maritime vehicles, as well as adversarial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. DEW will be increasingly used to blind and destroy satellites.
Leading Global Players in DEW
In the United States, the Pentagon, DARPA, and the service-specific military research laboratories are all researching DEWs to counter ballistic missiles, hypersonic cruise missiles, and hypersonic glide vehicles. These systems of missile defence have already begun getting operational. China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, India, and Israel are also developing military-grade DEWs, while Iran and Turkey claim to have them in active service.
Some of the leading global private players in defence are involved in the DEW market. These include Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, and Northrop Grumman, with significant contributions from Boeing, BAE Systems, and others. These companies are actively involved in research, development, and deployment of various DEW technologies, including lasers and high-power microwaves, for defence applications.
Lockheed Martin is particularly interested in laser weapon systems for defence against various threats. Raytheon Technologies (now RTX) is known for its High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS), deployed in multiple countries. Northrop Grumman focuses on solid-state laser technology and has developed a 500-kilowatt laser system. The Boeing Company develops compact and mobile DEW systems, like the Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS). BAE Systems is a major defence contractor with expertise in various DEW technologies. L3Harris Technologies is a key supplier of components for DEW systems. Leonardo S.p.A, a global leader in aerospace, defence, and security, has expertise in high-energy laser technologies.
Other significant players include Germany’s Rheinmetall AG, involved in the development of DEWs. French multinational Thales Group has a presence in the DEW market. Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd is a significant player.
Major Indian Companies
DRDO, India’s primary defence research organisation, is actively developing DEWs. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) are major players in India’s DEW market. Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC) is an Indian research centre focusing on laser technology for defence.
These companies are actively involved in research, development, and deployment of various DEW technologies, including lasers and high-power microwaves, for defence applications. The market is seeing increased investment and collaboration between these companies to develop advanced DEW systems for various applications, including countering drones, missiles, and other threats.
Simultaneously, the private sector is also developing laser and high-power microwave-based air defence and counter-drone systems by companies like Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), Adani Defence, Tonbo Imaging, Big Bang Boom Solutions, and Paras Defence.
DRDO’s DEW Programme
The Mk-II (A) “Shahastra Shakti” is a vehicle-mounted laser DEW system. At the heart of the Mk-II (A) is a 30-kilowatt high-energy laser. During trials, it demonstrated the ability to engage lightweight helicopters and long-endurance UAVs at distances of up to 3.5 kilometres. It showcased its entire spectrum of capability by engaging fixed-wing drones at long range, thwarting a multiple drone attack, and destroying enemy surveillance sensors and antennae. It is evolving into the most potent counter-drone system and is designed for flexible deployment from ground vehicles or naval vessels and can be transported by air, sea, or road. DRDO intends to operationally field the Mk-II (A) by 2027.
The prototype of the Mk-II (A) DEW system has been under a prolonged development of DRDO at the Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), Hyderabad, along with Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), Instruments Research & Development Establishment (IRDE), Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL), and Defence Laboratory (DL) Jodhpur, in harnessing the high power of laser. The critical subsystems along with components are designed and developed indigenously by CHESS, other DRDO laboratories, academic institutions, and more than 15 Indian industries.
The cost of firing it for a few seconds is equivalent to the cost of a couple of litres of petrol. All three Indian armed forces are already using the earlier version of DEW Mk-I as part of their air-defence capabilities. The new system is capable of engaging aerial targets at greater range and, therefore, a significant step in Atmanirbharta. This landmark achievement will also act as the cornerstone for all the future development of high-power DEWs. Its success puts India in the exclusive and limited club of the global powers who possess the high-power laser DEW.
Strategic Defence Initiative
In the 1980s, US President Ronald Reagan proposed the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI) programme, which was nicknamed Star Wars. It suggested that lasers, perhaps space-based X-ray lasers, could destroy ICBMs in flight. Several DEWs were examined by the SDI Organisation for potential use in missile defence. In July 1989, the accelerator was launched from White Sands Missile Range as part of the Beam Experiment Aboard Rocket (BEAR) project, reaching an altitude of 200 kilometres and operating successfully in space before being recovered intact after re-entry. No known weapon system utilising this technology has been deployed.
Israel’s Iron Beam
Israel is developing many DEWs, including the Iron Beam laser system, as part of its multi-tiered missile defence strategy. These systems are designed to complement existing missile defence technologies like the Iron Dome. It is being jointly developed by the Israel Missile Defence Organisation (IMDO) and the US Missile Defence Agency (MDA). The Iron Beam, developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, is a 100 kW-class High-Energy Laser Weapon System. It is designed to intercept and neutralise various threats, including rockets, artillery, and mortars (RAM), cruise missiles, and drones. It has reportedly been operational since October 2024.
Few Other DEW Systems
Active Denial System (ADS) is a millimetre wave source that heats the water in a human target’s skin and thus causes incapacitating pain. Vigilant Eagle is a ground-based airport defence system that directs high-frequency microwaves towards any projectile that is fired at an aircraft. Raytheon had announced in 2005 that field tests had been highly effective in defeating MANPADS missiles. The system is not operationally deployed. Bofors HPM Blackout is a high-powered microwave weapon that is said to be able to destroy at a short distance a wide variety of electronic equipment and is purportedly non-lethal. The effective radiated power (ERP) of the EL/M-2080 Green Pine radar makes it a hypothetical candidate for conversion into a DEW by focusing pulses of radar energy on target missiles.
The Pischal-Pro anti-drone rifle was featured at the Dubai Airshow, 2019. It is a battery-powered electromagnetic pulse weapon held to an operator’s shoulder, pointed at a flying target in a way similar to a rifle, and operated. The device emits separate electromagnetic pulses to suppress navigation and transmission channels used to operate an aerial drone, terminating the drone’s contact with its operator and sending it out of control.
The Russian Stupor is reported to have a range of two kilometres, covering a 20-degree sector; it also suppresses the drone’s cameras. It has reportedly been used in Syria. The Ukrainian army has reportedly used the Ukrainian KVS G-6, with a 3.5 km range and able to operate continuously for 30 minutes. It can disrupt remote control, the transmission of video at 2.4 and 5 GHz, and GPS and Glonass satellite navigation signals.
A UK-developed system unveiled in May 2024 uses radio waves to fry the electronic components of its targets, rendering them inoperable. It is capable of engaging multiple targets, including drone swarms, and reportedly costs less than 10 pence (13 cents) per shot. Epirus Inc, a defence technology start-up based in Torrance, California, unveiled on March 25 the Leonidas system, a high-power microwave (HPM) weapon designed to neutralise unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms.
Chinese researchers have claimed to develop a high-power microwave (HPM) weapon that is capable of producing electromagnetic pulses with an intensity similar to that of a nuclear explosion. The US Army tested a high-power microwave weapon as part of the US-Philippines Balikatan 2025 joint military drills. This is the first time the weapon has been employed in the Indo-Pacific region and coincides with rapidly rising tensions with China.
During the Iraq War, electromagnetic weapons, including high-power microwaves, were used by the US military to disrupt and destroy Iraqi electronic systems. The first officially known use of DEWs in combat between military forces was claimed to have occurred in Libya in August 2019 by Turkey, which claimed to use the ALKA directed-energy weapon.
To Summarise
Mastering the DEW technologies has long been the holy grail of air defence systems. While there have been global efforts to replace traditional kinetic weapons and missile air defence systems, the recent proliferation of much cheaper Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and the emergence of drone swarms as asymmetric threats have driven the demand for DEWs with counter-UAS and counter-swarm capabilities. This has been witnessed during the recent conflicts like the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict or Houthi attacks on US naval fleets, where relatively weaker state and non-state players are accruing disproportionate gains against their stronger adversaries.
Once detected by a radar followed by tracking through an electro-optic (EO) system, DEWs can engage targets at the speed of light and neutralise the target. This type of cutting-edge weaponry has the potential to revolutionise the battle space by reducing the reliance on expensive ammunition while also lowering the risk of collateral damage.
DRDO is also working on higher-powered laser systems, including a 300 kW “Surya” DEW with a 20-kilometre range. The Kilo Ampere Linear Injector “KALI”, is being co-developed with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. KALI will generate high-intensity electron pulses, which can be translated into electromagnetic radiation in the form of X-ray or microwave frequencies. It will act like a high-power microwave gun, designed to destroy incoming aircraft and missiles with a “soft-kill” system that disables their sensitive electronic systems. India’s private sector is getting big into DEW.
The future is in DEW. DEWs are being designed to be flown on aircraft or housed on military satellites. Action is expanding. The DEW market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 16.16 per cent and 19.6 per cent. Specifically, one report projects the market to grow from $1.77 billion in 2023 to $6.96 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 16.16 per cent. India must remain at “full throttle” to become a major player.
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