Army expected to add counter-drone laser weapons to base defenses

The Army is expected to officially add a laser weapon to its defenses, a source with knowledge of the matter confirmed to Task & Purpose on Tuesday.

Wired first reported that the Defense Department is expected to award a contract soon for an Enduring High Energy Laser. If the weapon is fielded, it would mark a significant step forward in the military’s adoption of laser weapons.

The Pentagon deferred questions on the matter to the Army. A spokesperson for the Army declined to comment.

Laser Wars reported that the Army had issued a draft solicitation to provide the defense industry with a chance to “verify reasonableness and feasibility” of producing and fielding up to 24 Enduring-High Energy Laser systems.

The news about the pending contract award for the Enduring High Energy Laser comes as the U.S. military as a whole is facing the growing threat of small and inexpensive drones, which are becoming more pervasive on modern battlefields. Both Ukraine and Israel have shown how small drones can be used to devastate enemy personnel and equipment. Small drones that are controlled by fiber optic cables also cannot be jammed.

Iran has also used drones to attack U.S. installations in the Middle East along with partner nations in the region.

The military services have begun fielding anti-drone rounds and other new technologies to allow troops on the ground to shoot down small drones. Last year, the U.S. Army deployed a vehicle equipped with a BlueHalo LOCUST Laser Weapon System to the southern border.

The Army first unveiled the Enduring High Energy Laser in a July 2024 special notice, according to Laser Wars. The weapon, which would be the culmination of decades of research and development, is based on lessons from past unsuccessful efforts, such as one directed energy system that was designed to be mounted on a Stryker armored vehicle, which the Government Accountability Office later described as “not mature enough” for use.