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Pentagon awards $847M deals to develop scalable laser weapons against drones and cruise missiles
US Department of War commits over $800 million to transition laser weapon prototypes into deployable systems to counter UAVs and cruise missile threats.
The gist
Pentagon invests $847M to operationalize scalable laser weapons for defense against drones and cruise missiles.
The US Department of War announced significant contracts on July 9, 2026, awarding $86 million in initial funding under two Other Transaction Authority agreements to nLIGHT Defense and Lockheed Martin Aculight. These contracts aim to advance the Joint Laser Weapon System (JLWS) program by transforming experimental high-energy laser prototypes into production-ready weapon systems. The total program ceiling is set at $847 million as the department pushes for innovative solutions to counter emerging aerial threats.
The JLWS program is managed by the Scaled Directed Energy (SCADE) Critical Technology Area under the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. Their primary objective is to provide combatant commanders with flexible and scalable directed energy intercept capabilities against a spectrum of threats, ranging from asymmetric low-cost drones to sophisticated cruise missiles.
Initial JLWS prototypes are designed with a power rating of approximately 150 kilowatts, considered suitable for engaging unmanned aerial systems (UAS). However, to effectively counter higher-end threats such as cruise missiles, the program plans to scale these laser systems to between 300 and 500 kilowatts. In parallel, a 500-kilowatt integrated system is being developed, leveraging the laser source technology advanced through the High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative (HELSI).
The weapon systems are engineered to fit within containerized modules to facilitate modular integration across various platforms. This design allows rapid deployment on both ground and naval combat units, thereby enhancing operational flexibility across different geographic combatant commands. The modularity supports quick adaptation depending on mission requirements and platform constraints.
Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael emphasized the strategic necessity of defending the homeland from novel threats. He stated that the department is collaborating closely with industry partners to deliver directed energy weapons featuring deep magazines – a term denoting the capacity for sustained engagement – across multiple military domains.
This latest investment aligns with a broader effort to rebalance air defense costs and effectiveness, especially highlighted by recent conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. Those conflicts demonstrated how expensive interceptor missiles were being consumed to shoot down comparatively inexpensive drones. Directed energy weapons, with their near-instantaneous speed of light engagement and extremely low cost per shot, present a critical advantage against large drone swarms, notwithstanding current challenges posed by weather and laser beam stability.
The Pentagon recently achieved milestones in directed energy applications, including a test dubbed the Golden Dome, which reportedly showcased the ability of laser systems to neutralize both drones and cruise missiles. There is also ongoing consideration of stationing laser-based counter-drone defenses at sensitive US military facilities in response to multiple drone incursions near these sites.
This development is part of a growing international trend. On the same date, Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) awarded a contract to MBDA Deutschland and Rheinmetall. The contract focuses on developing a containerized high-energy laser weapon system for the German Navy, building on earlier demonstrator tests aboard the frigate Sachsen, with an operational target date set for 2029.
Frequently asked questions
- What companies received contracts for the Pentagon's laser weapon program?
- nLIGHT Defense and Lockheed Martin Aculight were awarded initial contracts under the JLWS program to develop laser weapon systems.
- What are the power levels planned for the laser weapons and their target threats?
- Initial prototypes will have about 150 kW power for countering drones, with later systems scaling up to 300-500 kW to defend against cruise missiles.
- How will the laser systems be deployed in military operations?
- The systems are designed as containerized, modular units for integration on ground and naval platforms, enabling rapid deployment across combatant commands.
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Trump's Interim Boeing 747-8 Air Force One Flies First International Mission to Turkey NATO Summit
President Donald Trump's interim presidential aircraft has completed its first international mission, carrying the president to Türkiye for the 2026 NATO Summit. The Boeing 747-8 , widely referred to as the "$400 million bridge" Air Force One , departed the United States this week as Trump traveled to meet NATO leaders for talks expected to focus on defense spending, Russia's war in Ukraine, and alliance priorities.
RAAF's Australian-Built CT4A Trainer Retires After Nearly 50 Years
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Canada's first newly built CC-330 Husky tanker completes maiden flight in Spain
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Boeing advances new St Louis factory for sixth-generation combat jet production
Although not officially tied to the US Air Force’s F-47 programme, the St. Louis plant is widely expected to assemble the new sixth-generation fighter. Boeing is progressing with construction of a new classified factory that will build the next generation of advanced combat aircraft. Work on the site began in 2024 across the street from the St. Louis, Missouri, headquarters of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS). Known within the company as the Brownleigh Site, the new factory is located in the heart of Boeing’s combat aircraft production campus, which includes assembly lines for the F-15EX, F/A-18E/F and T-7A jets, as well as several types of precision munitions. The MQ-25 uncrewed refueller will be assembled at another plant in nearby Mascoutah, Illinois. “Momentum continues on our St. Louis expansion,” says Dan Gillian, general manager of Boeing’s air dominance unit. “We are expanding our defence footprint while supporting next-generation capabilities.” Images released by Boeing indicate that exterior work on the 102,000sq m (1.1 million sq ft) factory is now largely complete, with the roof, exterior panels and hangar doors all installed. Redevelopment of a disused McDonnell Douglas manufacturing site known as the Northern Tract is also progressing, including the installation of the first steel support columns. The Brownleigh Site, along with the rest of Boeing’s fighter production campus and delivery centre, is adjacent to St. Louis Lambert International airport. Although not officially tied to the US Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme, the factory being developed at the Brownleigh Site is expected to produce Boeing’s developmental F-47 fighter, which will be the Pentagon’s first frontline sixth-generation tactical jet. Boeing has long been cagey about the $1.8 billion factory, which the company began first developing in 2023. Active construction began in 2024, well before Boeing had secured a competitive win for the NGAD contract against rival Lockheed Martin. The new advanced combat aircraft factory under construction at the Brownleigh Site is located in close proximity to Boeing’s defence business headquarters and the company’s fighter delivery centre at St. Louis Lambert International airport. Credit: Screenshot from Google Earth During a 2024 FlightGlobal visit to BDS headquarters in St. Louis, Boeing executives described the advanced combat aircraft plant as a “bet” on the company’s future. A billboard visible outside the Brownleigh Site construction area prominently featured a sixth-generation-style black jet, proclaiming Boeing's commitment to fighter manufacturing. That risky bet paid off. Boeing won the NGAD competition in 2025 and is now progressing toward the first flight of an F-47 prototype, currently planned for 2028. The airframer is also a presumptive finalist for the US Navy’s F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter, alongside rival Northrop Grumman. The expansion of Boeing’s industrial footprint in St. Louis has likely contributed to the confident proclamations from BDS chief executive Steve Parker that the company is capable of delivering both the F-47 and F/A-XX, should Boeing also be selected for the navy programme. "Can Boeing do both? Absolutely," Parker said last year at the 2025 Paris air show. Parker affirmed that stance in a recent interview with FlightGlobal. He also describes the F-47 contract as a “generational windfall” for Boeing while declining to give specific progress updates on the secretive programme. "What I will tell you is that it's going very well,” Parker says. “We'll let our actions speak more so than words." The US Air Force has suggested it will field at least 185 F-47s, which will have an unrefuelled combat radius of 1,000nm (1,850km), a top speed of Mach 2 and the ability to team with the new category of uncrewed fighters currently in development, including the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems FQ-42 and Anduril Industries FQ-44. Boeing is separately set to benefit from a large increase to the USAF’s planned buy of F-15EX fighters. The latest fiscal year 2027 Pentagon budget request would increase that fleet size as high as 268 jets, elevating Boeing to full-rate production of 24 F-15EXs annually by 2028-2029. Israel also aims to operate a total of 50 F-15IAs , an Israel-specific variant of the F-15EX.
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