A senior Pentagon official has issued a direct appeal to the defense industry, urging accelerated development of lighter, more efficient directed energy weapons (DEW). These advanced systems are envisioned for integration onto aircraft and high-altitude platforms, with critical applications in special operations, counter-drone missions, and disrupting adversary command and control (C2) systems. This call comes as the U.S. Air Force’s own directed energy efforts have seen mixed results and limited public updates.
Directed energy systems, encompassing high-energy lasers and high-power microwave weapons, represent a compelling alternative to conventional munitions across all branches of the U.S. military. Their advantages include “deep magazines”—effectively an unlimited supply of shots as long as power is available—and a significantly lower risk of collateral damage compared to explosive weapons, making them suitable for use near populated areas.
Michael Dodd, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies, recently highlighted on the social media platform X that this promising technology is transitioning “out of the lab and toward the fight.” However, he emphasized that substantial development work remains. Dodd specifically called for innovations that prioritize size, weight, and power (SWaP) efficiency, stating, “Smaller. Lighter. More efficient. Size, weight, and power decide what flies.” He reiterated the Pentagon’s need for practical solutions, urging industry to “Bring us your best. Not slideware—hardware we can put on a range and stress.”
The U.S. Air Force has demonstrated a particular strategic interest in directed energy weapons, primarily for defending its air bases against increasingly sophisticated drone attacks. Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink testified before Congress in May, affirming the service’s focus on a spectrum of capabilities, from electronic warfare to directed energy and kinetic solutions, “to defend our Airmen and Guardians.”
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has been a key player in developing high-power microwave technology. One notable achievement was the Tactical High-power Operational Responder (THOR), a trailer-sized system that proved “exceptionally effective at disabling” a drone swarm during a 2023 demonstration. AFRL subsequently announced the development of a successor system, dubbed “Mjolnir,” referencing the hammer of the Norse god Thor. However, no public tests of Mjolnir have been announced since its inception.
Financially, the Air Force’s 2027 budget request includes $91.8 million for research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) of directed energy technology. While significant, the absence of directed energy allocations in the procurement account suggests that the technology is still in the experimental and developmental phases rather than ready for widespread acquisition. The service projects an additional $406.6 million in RDT&E funding for DEW between fiscal years 2028 and 2031, indicating a sustained, long-term investment in research.
Beyond internal development, Air Force officials involved in point-defense efforts against drone threats have indicated the potential for acquiring commercially available directed-energy capabilities through entities like the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401).
Despite these ongoing efforts, not all Air Force directed energy programs have succeeded. A major initiative, the Airborne High Energy Laser (AHEL), intended for integration onto the special operations AC-130J gunship, was canceled in 2024. Reports indicated the program missed its “available integration and flight test window,” highlighting the challenges in transitioning these complex systems from development to operational deployment.
Beyond the technical specifications, Dodd also critically assessed the pace and frequency of live-fire testing for these emergent technologies. “We need to shoot more, and shoot sooner,” he asserted. “Live fire, in the field, with the units who will actually use these systems — air, land, sea, space. Testing can’t be a once-a-year event on a range. It has to be routine.”
This increased emphasis on testing aligns with recent regulatory changes. David Bagnati, executive director of JIATF 401, revealed at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, Ala., that restrictions on testing directed energy weapons in U.S. airspace have been loosened. “We are now accepted to use high-energy lasers in the national airspace,” Bagnati stated. He added that JIATF 401 is currently conducting “operational assessments at the border,” utilizing the southern border as a “springboard to bring new capabilities into the national airspace.”
The easing of these testing restrictions occurred in April, following a comprehensive safety assessment of a high-energy laser counter-drone system by the Pentagon and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This agreement was a direct response to an incident in February, when the FAA temporarily shut down air traffic over El Paso after a U.S. military laser, designed for counter-drone operations, was fired into the airspace over the U.S.-Mexican border.
Finally, Dodd underscored the necessity for advanced integration, stating that the Pentagon requires systems capable of combining “every sensor we have and fuse it into one picture.” This comprehensive data fusion is crucial for tracking and defeating multiple threats simultaneously. He concluded that “Directed energy has to work alongside kinetic and non-kinetic options, so the operator picks the right effect in seconds,” emphasizing the need for a versatile, integrated approach to modern warfare.
Why This Matters
The Pentagon’s renewed push for advanced directed energy weapons (DEW) carries significant implications for global security, technological innovation, and military strategy. These systems represent a potential paradigm shift in warfare, offering cost-effective and precise solutions to emerging threats.
Firstly, the development of DEW is crucial for countering the proliferation of inexpensive and increasingly sophisticated drone technology. Adversaries can deploy swarms of drones to overwhelm conventional defenses, posing a significant threat to military installations, personnel, and critical infrastructure. Directed energy weapons, with their “deep magazines,” offer a scalable and sustainable defense against such threats, potentially reducing the reliance on costly interceptor missiles.
Secondly, the call for smaller, lighter, and more efficient DEW specifically for aircraft and special operations highlights a strategic need for mobile, adaptable defensive and offensive capabilities. Integrating these systems onto aerial platforms would extend their reach and responsiveness, enabling precision strikes or defensive screens in contested airspace without the logistical burdens associated with traditional munitions.
Thirdly, this initiative underscores the intensifying technological competition among global powers. Nations like China and Russia are also investing heavily in directed energy research. For the U.S. to maintain its technological edge and deter potential adversaries, continuous innovation and rapid fielding of advanced weapon systems are imperative. Lagging in this domain could have serious strategic consequences.
Finally, the emphasis on robust, routine live-fire testing, coupled with the loosening of airspace restrictions, signifies a maturation of DEW technology and a commitment to moving these capabilities from laboratories to the hands of warfighters. This practical approach to development is essential for identifying and resolving real-world operational challenges, ensuring that deployed systems are effective and reliable. The call for industry to provide “hardware we can put on a range and stress” signals a shift from theoretical concepts to tangible, deployable solutions, promising significant opportunities for defense contractors and technological advancements that could redefine the future of military engagement.