Science1 hOctober 6, 2026, 20:17

Pentagon picks four laser and microwave systems for homeland drone defense

The US Defense Department has selected four directed-energy systems for a pilot program testing counter-drone defense on US soil: lasers from AeroVironment and Kord, Epirus' Leonidas microwave system and Boeing's Compact Laser Weapon System. The Army-led JIATF-401 will oversee operational testing, with a directed-energy shoot-off planned at Dugway Proving Ground in December.

Interesting Engineering

Open source

Pentagon picks four laser and microwave systems for homeland drone defense

Selected systems include AeroVironment, Kord and Boeing lasers plus Epirus Leonidas microwave
The Army-led Joint Interagency Task Force 401 will run the program
A directed-energy shoot-off is planned at Dugway Proving Ground in December
JIATF-401 coordinates with the FAA since systems operate in civilian airspace

#Boeing#AeroVironment#Epirus

UK research agency backs drone-based internet service experiment with lasers, microwaves, and gravity waves used for wireless power — Britain invests $94 million into Starlink alternative

Hardware

U.S. Military Reportedly Uses Xbox-Style Controls for Laser Weapons

Hardware

U.S. Army orders first high-energy laser system Locust X3 for $468.8M

Hardware

Pentagon picks four laser and microwave systems for homeland drone defense

UK research agency backs drone-based internet service experiment with lasers, microwaves, and gravity waves used for wireless power — Britain invests $94 million into Starlink alternative

U.S. Military Reportedly Uses Xbox-Style Controls for Laser Weapons

U.S. Army orders first high-energy laser system Locust X3 for $468.8M

Heven AeroTech pitches hydrogen drones as platforms for airborne lasers