Directed energy weapons

The US Department of Defense’s Joint Publication 3–13 Electronic Warfare describes directed energy (DE) weapons as

a system using DE primarily as a direct means to disable, damage or destroy adversary equipment, facilities, and personnel.

Directed energy weapons (DEWs) transfer a concentrated amount of energy in a short period of time to produce both lethal and non-lethal destructive effects. Examples include cutting through steel, aluminum, and other materials in a matter of seconds to cause pressurized vessels (missile propellant and oxidizer tanks) to destroy, degrade, and/or blind systems containing sensors and electronics.

The following are types of DEW:

• high-energy lasers
• high-power radio frequency devices
• high-power microwave devices
• charged particle beam weapons
• neutral particle beam weapons

Potential benefits of DEWs include the ability to defend against multiple types of threats with precision, minimal collateral damage, and minimal cost per engagement. These potential advantages have made directed energy a modernization priority for the US Department of Defense with the goal of maturing technology to deployable forms.

DEW demand has seen rapid growth globally with the value of DEWs reaching $4.1bn in 2020, with the US having the highest market share (41.6%), followed by China, France, Germany, and the UK. Between the fiscal year 2017 and 2019, the US doubled its military expenditure on DEWs from $535m to $1.1bn.

Existing DEWs focus on defensive functions such as protection of critical facilities against missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), rockets, and naval attacks. Future developments are expected to focus on expanding defensive functions, particularly lasers, which provide significant advantages over traditional weapons such as precision engagement, low-cost per shot, logistical benefits, and low detectability.

Deployable DEWs present multiple challenges:

• Delivering the required energy density
• Preventing performance degradation from age, misuse, or contamination
• Monitoring performance requires sensors capable of working in high power ranges
• Dissipating the significant heat generated during operation
• Controlling the beam to strike desired targets

DEWs require significant power levels to be effective (>50 kilowatts). Destroying anti-ship cruise missiles requires a beam of 500 kilowatts and power demands in the megawatts.

The following are companies and research entities involved in the development of DE weapon systems:

• AFRL
• Honeywell
• Lockheed Martin
• Qinetiq
• Boeing
• KBR
• Northrop Grumman
• Raytheon
• General Atomics
• Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
• MBDA

• High Energy Laser and Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS)—Lockheed Martin
• High Energy Laser Weapon System 2 (HELWS2 or H2)—Raytheon
• Laser Weapon System Demonstrator (LWSD)—Northop Grumman
• Iron Beam—Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
• Dragonfire—MBDA

• Counter-Electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project (CHAMP)—Boeing