Directed Energy Weapon
A weapon system that emits concentrated energy, such as a laser beam or microwave pulse, to damage or destroy targets at the speed of light without using conventional ammunition.
Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) use focused beams of electromagnetic energy to disable, damage, or destroy targets. The two main types are high-energy lasers (HELs), which concentrate a beam of coherent light to heat and burn through a target, and high-power microwave (HPM) weapons, which emit pulses of electromagnetic energy to disrupt or destroy electronic systems.
Laser weapons have reached operational status on several platforms. The U.S. Navy's HELIOS system on Arleigh Burke destroyers can engage drones, small boats, and sensors. The Army's DE-SHORAD system mounts a 50-kilowatt laser on a Stryker vehicle to defeat incoming rockets, artillery, mortars, and drones. These systems offer a key advantage over conventional weapons: each shot costs only a few dollars in electricity, compared to thousands or millions for a missile.
DEWs face significant challenges including atmospheric interference (rain, dust, and humidity weaken laser beams), the need for sustained power generation, and thermal management of the weapon system itself. Despite these limitations, the combination of near-zero cost per shot, speed-of-light engagement, and unlimited magazine depth makes directed energy weapons an increasingly important component of air and missile defense.
Related Terms
Electromagnetic Railgun
A weapon that uses electromagnetic force to launch projectiles at hypersonic speeds without chemical propellant, using two parallel rails and an electric current to accelerate a conductive projectile.
CIWS(Close-In Weapon System)
Close-In Weapon System is an automated shipboard defense system designed to detect and destroy incoming anti-ship missiles and aircraft at short range as a last line of defense.
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Military Laser Weapons: Every System in Service and What They Can Actually Do
The Navy's 60kW HELIOS, the Army's 50kW DE-SHORAD, and Israel's Iron Beam are operational or in final testing. Here's how they work, what they cost per shot, and why they're replacing missiles.