Pentagon Signs Contract for Laser Weapon Development

According to a report by Reference News on July 19, the Russian newspaper Vedomosti reported on July 15 that the U.S. Department of Defense is preparing to transition laser weapons from experimental prototypes to effective air defense systems. They will be used to destroy drones and cruise missiles. The first contracts under the project framework were signed on July 11, with a total project value of $847 million. The laser systems are expected to be deployed as early as 2028.

On July 11, the Pentagon announced that it had signed the first research and development contracts for laser weapon systems with Enligh Laser Technologies and Lockheed Martin-Aculight. The initial contract amount is $86 million, while the total budget cap for the "Joint Laser Weapon System" (JLWS) project, which will start in 2025, is $847 million.

According to reports, the JLWS project will be implemented in two phases: first, the development of a laser prototype with a maximum power of 150 kilowatts for high-precision strikes against drone swarms; then, the development of lasers with a power of 300-500 kilowatts for intercepting cruise missiles.

In the context of military operations against Iran and the Houthis, the U.S. has consumed nearly a thousand air defense missiles over the past two years, and replenishing the stockpile will take about three years. In this situation, if laser technology is successfully deployed, it will become a cost-effective and efficient defensive measure. (Translated by He Yingjun)