Archive · 24 Sep 2026
U.S. Laser Weapons Move Toward Combat Against Drones
The US military is using powerful laser weapons to fight drones.
These weapons send a concentrated beam of energy through the air.
The beam can damage or destroy an airborne drone.
Some of the systems are reportedly being used in the Middle East.
Other systems are being tested near the US southern border.
The military is moving the technology from experiments toward real battlefield use.
Scientists and engineers have worked on these weapons for many years.
The report describes this effort as a $500 million laser war.
The US military is moving high-energy laser weapons beyond testing toward battlefield use.
Directed-energy systems are reportedly being used against drones in the Middle East.
The systems are also being tested along the US southern border.
The weapons use concentrated energy beams to disable or destroy airborne targets.
The technology has been developed over several decades, in an effort described as a $500 million laser war.
- Who
- The US military is developing and using high-energy laser weapons.
- What
- Directed-energy systems are being used and tested to disable or destroy drones.
- When
- The articles do not specify a date; they say the systems are moving beyond testing.
- Where
- The systems are reportedly being used in the Middle East and tested along the US southern border.
- Why
- The weapons are designed to use concentrated energy beams against airborne targets, including drones.
- Reported effort value
- $500 million
- Weapon type
- High-energy laser and directed-energy systems
- Primary target
- Drones and other airborne targets
- Reported operational region
- The Middle East
- Testing location
- The US southern border
- Development timeline
- The technology has been developed over several decades
- Current status
- Moving from testing toward battlefield use