Light speed? Officials call for patience on laser weapons while industry begs for bigger buys

Light speed? Officials call for patience on laser weapons while industry begs for bigger buys
Light speed? Officials call for patience on laser weapons while industry begs for bigger buys

A report from NDIA highlights directed-energy suppliers’ struggles to get by on unpredictable “one-off” contracts for prototypes and field tests — but OSD research and acquisition officials warn there are complex tactical questions to work out before they can buy lasers in bulk.

SDA launches 13 more Tranche 0 data relay, missile tracking sats for ‘warfighter immersion’

SDA launches 13 more Tranche 0 data relay, missile tracking sats for ‘warfighter immersion’
SDA launches 13 more Tranche 0 data relay, missile tracking sats for ‘warfighter immersion’

While SDA plans to use lasers to connect its hundreds of satellites in low Earth orbit to each other and to the ground, that technology remains in its infancy.

Laser weapons ‘finally’ seeing ‘real progress,’ Missile Defense Agency official says

Laser weapons ‘finally’ seeing ‘real progress,’ Missile Defense Agency official says
Laser weapons ‘finally’ seeing ‘real progress,’ Missile Defense Agency official says

“There have been some really impressive results,” said MDA Executive Director Laura DeSimone on recent directed energy tests.

Aussie firm jumps in high-energy laser game, aiming for deals down under

Aussie firm jumps in high-energy laser game, aiming for deals down under
Aussie firm jumps in high-energy laser game, aiming for deals down under

Matt Jones, an executive at Electro Optic Systems, told Breaking Defense the company’s container-based 36-kilowatt laser is ready to deploy.

HEL in Abu Dhabi: US defense giants Lockheed, Raytheon push laser tech at Middle East arms show

HEL in Abu Dhabi: US defense giants Lockheed, Raytheon push laser tech at Middle East arms show
HEL in Abu Dhabi: US defense giants Lockheed, Raytheon push laser tech at Middle East arms show

Both firms are exhibiting high-energy lasers (HEL) systems at their stations at IDEX 2023 in Abu Dhabi.

Booz Allen Hamilton establishes laser weapon focused ‘HELworks’

Booz Allen Hamilton establishes laser weapon focused ‘HELworks’
Booz Allen Hamilton establishes laser weapon focused ‘HELworks’

It’s the company’s first business unit focused solely on directed energy.

Iron Beam, Israel’s laser air defense system, could be ready in 2-3 years

Iron Beam, Israel’s laser air defense system, could be ready in 2-3 years
Iron Beam, Israel’s laser air defense system, could be ready in 2-3 years

“We don’t have a technology problem or a scientific problem anymore… it’s now an engineering problem. The science is there, we’ve shown that it works,” said Rafael executive Michael Lurie.

AFSOC AC-130J gunship to fire laser weapon in flight test in 2023

AFSOC AC-130J gunship to fire laser weapon in flight test in 2023
AFSOC AC-130J gunship to fire laser weapon in flight test in 2023

Flight demos will take place in summer or fall 2023, but it remains unclear whether development will turn into a bonafide program of record.

Lockheed Martin delivers 300-kilowatt laser to Defense Department

Lockheed Martin delivers 300-kilowatt laser to Defense Department
Lockheed Martin delivers 300-kilowatt laser to Defense Department

The new laser will take part in the Army’s demonstration of its Indirect Fires Protection Capability-High Energy Laser later this year.

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No longer science & technology projects, high-energy laser weapons are now operational

No longer science & technology projects, high-energy laser weapons are now operational
No longer science & technology projects, high-energy laser weapons are now operational

Asymmetric threats addressed by high-energy lasers include small-to-midsize Group 1, 2, and 3 drones, along with rockets, artillery, and mortars.

With new systems on the horizon, one Army depot plans its own modernization

With new systems on the horizon, one Army depot plans its own modernization
With new systems on the horizon, one Army depot plans its own modernization

“If we wait until a system goes into a sustainment cycle for us to be able to tool up and facilities up, it’s way too late,”  Letterkenny Army Depot’s Kate Williams told Breaking Defense.

DARPA’s Mandrake 2 satellites: communicating at the speed of light

DARPA’s Mandrake 2 satellites: communicating at the speed of light
DARPA’s Mandrake 2 satellites: communicating at the speed of light

Mandrake 2’s next trick, after demonstrating optical intersatellite links, will be using lasers for space-to-ground communications.

‘Bullet made out of light’: Army to field first Stryker-mounted combat laser in next 45 days

‘Bullet made out of light’: Army to field first Stryker-mounted combat laser in next 45 days
‘Bullet made out of light’: Army to field first Stryker-mounted combat laser in next 45 days

In addition to the directed energy system for the Stryker, the Army is looking at a small laser for a smaller vehicle.

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Hypersonic weapons meet speed-of-light defenses

Hypersonic weapons meet speed-of-light defenses
Hypersonic weapons meet speed-of-light defenses

See how Raytheon Missiles & Defense is developing high-power microwaves as part of layered air defenses.