US Army Deploys High-Energy Lasers Overseas to Combat Enemy Drones

The United States Army has confirmed the deployment of a pair of high-energy lasers overseas to intercept incoming enemy drones, marking a significant advancement in the military’s development of directed-energy weapons.

According to a spokesman for the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, the Palletized High Energy Laser (P-HEL), based on defense contractor BlueHalo’s LOCUST Laser Weapon System, is currently operational in an undisclosed location abroad. The deployment of the P-HEL, which commenced in November 2022 and saw a second system arrive earlier this year, signifies the first publicly acknowledged deployment of a functioning laser weapon for air defense outside of experimental testing.

While the Army has refrained from confirming whether the P-HEL has achieved a “kill” against an incoming drone, the technology operates by converting electrical power into an intense stream of photons capable of burning through various materials, including the body of a drone, rocket casings, or the hull of a boat.

Video footage shared by BlueHalo demonstrates the P-HEL’s capabilities, showing an operator using an Xbox controller to reposition the pallet-mounted laser array, scanning the sky for targets, and successfully neutralizing a moving quadcopter drone and a rocket.

Although specific deployment locations remain undisclosed due to operational security concerns, Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder previously indicated that directed-energy weapons were part of the defensive measures employed by U.S. military forces in the Middle East amidst ongoing drone and missile attacks.

The deployment of the P-HEL comes as the U.S. military confronts the escalating threat posed by weaponized drones, particularly in the Middle East. In response to this threat, the Army has allocated significant resources for counter-drone programs, including directed-energy initiatives.

Efforts to enhance air defense capabilities extend beyond directed-energy weapons, with the Army and Marine Corps actively seeking additional counter-drone technologies. The recent deployment of the P-HEL represents a significant milestone in the Army’s directed-energy weapons program, with further advancements on the horizon, including the development of more powerful laser systems and high-powered microwaves to address evolving threats.

With the deployment of high-energy lasers, the U.S. military aims to bolster its air defense capabilities while pursuing cost-effective solutions to counter the growing threat of weaponized drones.