Key facts
- The Pentagon is testing four directed-energy systems to counter drone swarms.
- Selected systems include three lasers and one high-powered microwave weapon.
- The pilot program will run for one year across five U.S. military bases.
- Directed-energy weapons cost approximately $1 to $10 per engagement, compared to $4.1 million for a Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptor.
- Boeing's Compact Laser Weapon System destroyed three Group 3 drones during a 2024 exercise.
- Epirus' Leonidas system uses microwave pulses to disable electronics in multiple drones simultaneously.
The Pentagon is accelerating its efforts to counter the proliferation of drone warfare by testing directed-energy weapons, including lasers and high-powered microwaves. The U.S. military is seeking to replace expensive traditional ammunition with more cost-effective electrical energy to engage increasingly prevalent and inexpensive drone targets.
Four specific systems have been selected for a year-long operational testing program across five U.S. military bases: AeroVironment’s Palletized High-Energy Laser, Boeing’s Compact Laser Weapon System, Kord Technologies’ Firefly high-energy laser, and Epirus’ Leonidas high-powered microwave. While the lasers focus on individual targets, the Leonidas system uses microwave energy to disable electronics and can engage multiple drones simultaneously.
The testing sites include 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. This initiative was mandated by Congress earlier this year, with deployments slated to begin in late 2026. The program aims to provide the Pentagon with sustained data on the performance of these systems outside of controlled demonstrations.
Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401), stated that these systems are crucial for a layered drone defense and that the pilot program will help understand their integration and sustainment for homeland defense. JIATF-401 has already committed billions to counter-drone efforts, awarding contracts worth up to $4.15 billion in September under a broader $7 billion procurement vehicle.
The economic advantage of directed-energy weapons is significant. The Government Accountability Office estimates the cost per engagement for these systems at $1 to $10, primarily for electricity and cooling, a stark contrast to the $4.1 million cost of a single Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptor in fiscal 2023. While Patriot missiles can handle more sophisticated threats, their use against cheap drones presents a substantial cost disadvantage. Directed-energy weapons eliminate the need for ammunition replacement, though their effectiveness is contingent on factors like power availability, cooling, range, and environmental conditions.
Boeing has previously demonstrated its Compact Laser Weapon System against Group 3 drones, successfully destroying three during the Red Sands exercise in Saudi Arabia in 2024. The system, which operated on 5 kilowatts of power and integrated with the Army’s Forward Area Air Defense network, highlights the potential for smaller, more mobile directed-energy solutions.
Epirus’ Leonidas system is designed to counter drone swarms by disabling their electronics with high-powered microwave pulses. It has also shown effectiveness against fiber-optic-guided FPV drones, which are less susceptible to conventional electronic jamming.
Ukraine has already implemented similar cost-saving measures, utilizing laser systems that cost approximately 50 cents per shot to counter Russian drones. Ukrainian developers have created systems like Sunray and Tryzub, with plans to deploy hundreds of smaller, vehicle-mounted laser systems.