Latest "directed energy weapons" stories

Big screen to battlefield: How sci-fi can inspire next-generation weaponry

Directed energy has captivated science fiction fans for decades, but we must not allow a failure of imagination to prevent us from converting directed energy from movie magic to military might before our adversaries.

By Henry A. “Trey” Obering III

24 months ago

The Space Force wants to use directed-energy systems for space superiority

The chief of space operations acknowledged that the U.S. is developing a directed-energy portfolio that will help America maintain space superiority.

By Nathan Strout

24 months ago

Raytheon awarded $15.5 million to upgrade laser weapon

Mounted on the back of a dune buggy, the Raytheon-built High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) uses directed energy to defeat incoming unmanned aerial systems.

By Nathan Strout

2 years ago

Drone-killing, dune buggy-mounted laser gets tested overseas

Affixed to the back of an off-road vehicle, the Raytheon-built High Energy Laser Weapon System uses directed energy to defeat incoming unmanned aerial systems.

By Nathan Strout

2 years ago

Air Force to begin assembly of airborne laser

The Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) program’s goal is to build a laser weapon that can be installed on fighter jets to take out incoming missiles.

By Nathan Strout

2 years ago

Griffin ‘extremely skeptical’ of airborne lasers for missile defense

"I’m extremely skeptical that we can put a large laser on an aircraft and use it to shoot down an adversary missile, even from fairly close," says Mike Griffin.

By Aaron Mehta

3 years ago