The Pentagon has selected four directed-energy systems for a year-long pilot program at five U.S. military bases to test their effectiveness against drones. The systems include AeroVironment’s Palletized High-Energy Laser, Boeing’s Compact Laser Weapon System, Kord Technologies’ Firefly high-energy laser, and Epirus’ Leonidas high-powered microwave. These weapons will be deployed at Fort Bliss in Texas, Naval Base Kitsap in Washington, Fort Huachuca in Arizona, Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota, and Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
A directed-energy "shoot-off" is scheduled for December at Utah's Dugway Proving Ground to evaluate additional systems, with the Pentagon prepared to purchase those that perform well. The cost of firing a directed-energy weapon is estimated at $1 to $10, significantly less than the $4.1 million cost of a Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptor. While Patriot missiles can engage more sophisticated threats, using them against inexpensive drones creates a substantial cost disadvantage.
Directed-energy weapons offer a potential solution to the challenge posed by the increasing use of drones in warfare. They eliminate the need for ammunition replacement after each engagement, though their effectiveness is dependent on factors such as available power, cooling, range, and operating conditions.
Boeing's Compact Laser Weapon System has previously demonstrated its ability to destroy Group 3 drones using only 5 kilowatts of power. Epirus' Leonidas system uses high-powered microwave pulses to disable the electronics of multiple drones simultaneously, making it suitable for countering drone swarms. Ukraine has also been developing and testing its own directed-energy systems, such as Sunray and Tryzub, as a cost-effective alternative to conventional air defense ammunition.
