Laser Weapons Going to 5 US Bases to Deal with Drones
Why It Matters
The move signals the military’s pivot to directed‑energy defenses, offering a scalable, low‑cost counter to proliferating drone threats and reshaping future weapons spending.
Key Takeaways
- •Pentagon deploying laser systems to five high‑risk U.S. bases.
- •Sites include Fort Bliss, Fort Huachuca, Grand Forks, Whiteman, Kitsap.
- •Directed‑energy weapons aim to counter small hostile drone incursions.
- •Current U.S. laser inventory totals only sixteen operational units.
- •Options under review: THOR/Mjolnir microwaves, Leonidas, HELIOS, ODIN.
Summary
The Pentagon announced that laser and other directed‑energy weapons will be fielded at five U.S. installations to blunt the growing threat of small, low‑cost drones targeting critical assets.
The sites—Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota; Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri; and Naval Base Kitsap, Washington—host the Army’s armor division, cyber‑intelligence hubs, B‑2 bomber fleet, upcoming B‑21 program, and ballistic‑missile submarines. All have previously reported drone incursions, prompting the push for rapid‑response kinetic‑free defenses.
Officials are evaluating a menu of systems, from microwave‑based THOR/Mjolnir to the Army’s Leonidas and the Navy’s ODIN dazzler, as well as the high‑energy laser HELIOS. According to laser‑expert Jared Keller, the services collectively operate only sixteen operational laser platforms, underscoring the nascent state of the capability.
Deploying these weapons could reshape base security protocols, reduce reliance on conventional kinetic interceptors, and signal a broader shift toward directed‑energy solutions across the services, with potential ripple effects for defense contractors and future procurement budgets.
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