The Army continues to invest in “directed energy weapons” (lasers) to counter drones, due to their relatively low cost per shot.
As unmanned aerial systems are becoming increasingly deadly on the battlefield, the Army is seeking more efficient ways to counter enemy drones.
However, it appears that the Army will have to wait until at least Fiscal Year 2026 for funding to pursue additional counter-drone opportunities involving laser weapons.
Drones, Funding Concerns, and Lasers
Directed energy weapons, colloquially referred to as “laser” weapons, have shown promise against unmanned aerial systems.
On Wednesday, Army Lt. Gen. Robert Rasch, the director of the US Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), provided some insight on the progress of the service’s counter-drone competition at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium.
“We have to continue to work harder, we have to continue to work with the soldiers. We have to continue to work with industry to develop our directed-energy platforms and focus on the areas of reliability,” the senior Army officer stated.
The Army’s RCCTO runs counter-drone laser weapon research. Over the past few years, the RCCTO has developed several directed energy prototypes of varying sizes and capabilities. Some are small enough that they can deploy on tactical vehicles, while others are large enough that they can be established as stationary defenses. The Army has been experimenting with laser weapons ranging from 10 kilowatts to 300 kilowatts. According to Rasch, it expects directed energy weapons with larger energy power capabilities to be able to deal with broader threats, including conventional artillery shells, rocket artillery, and even cruise and ballistic missiles.
Thus far, the RCCTO has developed 17 directed energy weapon prototypes. The Army has deployed 11 of these weapon systems—mainly to the Middle East, in an effort to confront the persistent threat of Iranian unmanned aerial systems.
The Army continues to invest in directed energy weapons to counter drones, due to the relatively low cost per shot. For example, while conventional anti-drone interceptor missiles can cost up to hundreds of thousands of dollars per shot, some laser weapons can fire their shots for costs in the pennies, and take out incoming munitions and drones with a similar degree of effectiveness.
Although the US military is not usually known for its frugality—next year’s Pentagon budget, after all, is forecasted at $1 trillion—cutting costs where possible opens up funding opportunities for other programs.
How to Shoot Down a Drone
There are two main ways to deal with any incoming unmanned aerial system. First, there is the traditional, direct approach of physically shooting down the drone. One can achieve this either through conventional means—such as rifles, anti-aircraft machine guns, or interceptor missiles—or through more advanced means such as directed energy weapons.
Second, it is possible to disable most drones through electronic warfare. Although AI promises to advance drone autonomy in the years to come, today’s drones are usually piloted remotely by a human operator. By jamming the communications between the drone and its operator, a defender can crash the drone—or possibly take control of it, landing it safely in friendly territory and commandeering it.
The United States is not the only nation working on developing directed energy weapons. China, Russia, Israel, and the United Kingdom are only a few of the countries also experimenting with lasers for anti-drone use.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock / sommthink.
