The US Department of War (DoW) has selected four high-energy laser and high-powered microwave systems for a counter-uncrewed aircraft pilot intended to assess their operational use in homeland defence.
As outlined by the department, the pilot will evaluate the AeroVironment Palletized High-Energy Laser, Epirus Leonidas High-Powered Microwave, Kord Firefly High-Energy Laser, and Boeing Compact Laser Weapon systems.
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Data from the programme will inform ongoing efforts to integrate high-energy laser (HEL) and high-powered microwave (HPM) capabilities into broader counter-unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) strategies.
JIATF 401 director, US Army brigadier general Matt Ross said: “High-energy lasers and high-powered microwave systems are tools that can be effectively used in a layered drone defence.
“This pilot programme will test these capabilities in an operational environment so we can understand how best to integrate and sustain them to defend the homeland.”
The pilot was mandated by the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. It aims to provide real-world data on operational requirements, costs, and best practices, according to the department. JIATF 401, which oversees the effort, was created to consolidate counter-small UAS activities across federal agencies and allied partners.
The programme is being conducted in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), US Northern Command, and the military services.
Earlier in the year, a live-fire high-energy laser demonstration at White Sands Missile Range, conducted jointly by JIATF 401 and the FAA, triggered a safety assessment that found minimal risk to the national airspace and established guidelines for continued collaboration.
The DoW and JIATF 401 plan to assess additional directed-energy technologies moving forward.
In December, a directed-energy “shoot-off” at Dugway Proving Ground will assess further systems for possible inclusion in future operational activities.
Ross said: “There is no silver bullet, or one size fits all solution to countering the threat of drones.
“Directed energy gives commanders another option within a layered defence, complementing existing counter-UAS capabilities with a scalable, safe, and effective way to respond to drone threats.”
