Pentagon Invests Billions in Laser Weapons to Counter Missile Threats

The U.S. Department of Defense is investing heavily in laser weapon systems, such as the Iron Beam and DE M-SHORAD, to defend against a wide range of threats, including small rockets and ballistic missiles. These directed-energy systems offer an infinite magazine of interception opportunities and are being prototyped and tested by various U.S. military services.

The Iron Beam is a high-energy laser system designed to intercept and destroy incoming threats, while the DE M-SHORAD is a 50-kilowatt laser weapon system integrated into the Stryker M-SHORAD air defense artillery vehicle. These advanced laser weapons provide a cost-effective and efficient solution for defending against aerial threats, complementing traditional missile defense capabilities.

Why this matters: The development of laser weapons has the potential to revolutionize air defense by providing a more versatile and cost-effective solution compared to traditional missile defense systems. As the global threat landscape evolves, with increasing use of drones and other aerial threats, these directed-energy systems could play a crucial role in protecting U.S. forces and interests.

The Pentagon's investment in laser weapons comes as traditional missile defense systems face challenges in terms of cost and effectiveness. Missile defense interceptors can be up to 100 times more expensive than the targets they seek to intercept. In contrast, laser weapons have the potential to be much cheaper and more cost-effective, with the UK's DragonFire system costing only £13 to down a drone.

Other countries, including China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan, are also developing similar laser weapon systems. However, this technology is still not battle-tested, and questions remain about its effective range and accuracy. The article emphasizes the need for countries to develop cheaper and more sustainable air defense solutions to address the asymmetry in costs.

The global high energy laser (HEL) directed energy weapons (DEW) market is experiencing significant growth due to the demand for high-tech weapon systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted the HEL DEW market, disrupting supply chains, delaying research and development, and causing short-term operational issues for manufacturers.

The Pentagon's investment in laser weapons, such as the Iron Beam and DE M-SHORAD, represents a significant step forward in developing advanced air defense capabilities. These directed-energy systems have the potential to provide a more cost-effective and efficient solution for countering a wide range of aerial threats, from small rockets to ballistic missiles. As the technology continues to evolve and mature, laser weapons are expected to play an increasingly important role in the future of air defense.

Key Takeaways

• U.S. investing in laser weapon systems like Iron Beam, DE M-SHORAD for air defense
• Laser weapons offer cost-effective, efficient solution vs. traditional missile defense
• Laser weapons can counter drones, aerial threats as global threat landscape evolves
• Other countries also developing laser weapons, but technology not battle-tested yet
• COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted the high energy laser weapons market