The United States military has openly confirmed it possesses powerful directed energy weapons and is now working to scale them up for broader use in the Middle East. This comes from public statements by the Department of Defence, recent budget requests, and comments from service leaders. High-energy lasers and high-power microwave systems form the core of these programmes. They target drones, small boats, missiles, and other threats with focused beams instead of traditional bullets or missiles.
These weapons are no longer just concepts or lab experiments. The U.S. has deployed limited versions since the mid-2010s. The Navy installed its HELIOS system, a 60-kilowatt laser, on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers starting around 2019 to 2021. It handles counter-drone tasks and small boat threats. Testing continues on ships like USS Preble, with plans to boost power levels in the coming years.
The Army has moved forward with its DE M-SHORAD programme. This 50-kilowatt laser mounts on Stryker vehicles. Prototypes went overseas for testing as early as 2024, focusing on countering unmanned aerial systems.
By 2025, the Army had deployed several of these prototypes, including four in CENTCOM areas. Live-fire trials at places like Fort Sill combined laser shots with traditional air defence to build layered protection.
Other efforts include palletised high-energy lasers for quick setup in the field. Earlier tests on USS Ponce in 2014 gave the Navy real-world data on laser performance at sea. These systems operate in the tens of kilowatts range now. The focus remains on countering low-cost threats like drone swarms, where each shot costs far less than a missile.
Scaling up means pushing toward higher power outputs. The Navy aims for 150-kilowatt versions of HELIOS and even 300- to 600-kilowatt classes down the line. Discussions include fitting megawatt-level lasers on future Trump-class battleships, as the Navy’s top officer suggested in early 2026.
Budget documents show steady investment. The Pentagon requested funds in recent years for high-energy laser advanced development, specifically to increase power output.
Congress receives regular updates through reports on directed energy programmes. These include high-energy lasers and high-power microwaves, with dozens of initiatives across the services.
Why the push now? Drones have become a major battlefield issue. Cheap, numerous unmanned systems appear in conflicts from Ukraine to the Middle East.
Challenges remain. Power generation, cooling, and beam stability in rough conditions limit performance. Weather like fog or rain can weaken beams. The military addresses these through testing and engineering tweaks. Officials describe the technology as “pretty mature” in some areas, ready to contribute to next-generation defences.
The confirmation isn’t new in military circles. Directed energy has appeared in DoD roadmaps for years as a critical technology. Public acknowledgement counters old ideas that these were hidden or sci-fi only. Recent social media posts and reports highlighted a Department of Defence statement affirming possession and scaling efforts.
For the average person, this means future conflicts could see energy-based weapons more often. They change how militaries defend ships, bases, and troops. The U.S. isn’t alone in this field. Operational experience builds confidence. Congress and defence leaders keep funding these efforts to stay ahead. Residents in the U.S. and allied countries hear about these developments through official channels and defence news.
