Pentagon Selects Lockheed Martin and nLIGHT for Laser Defense Program as German Navy Advances Its Own Laser Weapon Development

Pentagon Selects Lockheed Martin and nLIGHT for Laser Defense Program

The U.S. Department of Defense has announced the selection of Lockheed Martin and high-power laser manufacturer nLIGHT to collaborate on a laser defense system development program. The partnership represents a further deepening of the U.S. military's commitment to Directed Energy Weapons (DEW), with the primary objective of enhancing interception capabilities against aerial threats such as drones and missiles.

German Navy Simultaneously Advances Laser Weapon System

In a parallel development, significant progress has been reported in Europe. MBDA and German defense industry major Rheinmetall have been selected by the German Navy to jointly develop a laser weapon system specifically designed for maritime combat environments. The move reflects the growing emphasis European navies are placing on next-generation defense technologies, particularly in addressing the urgent need to counter drone swarms and asymmetric threats at sea.

High-Energy Laser Technology Emerges as Global Military Priority

These two developments underscore the rapid transition of high-energy laser weapons from research and development into practical deployment. Compared with conventional interceptor missiles, laser weapons offer significant advantages including an extremely low cost-per-intercept and the ability to sustain rapid, repeated firing — making them a key solution against the growing threat posed by low-cost drones. The concurrent investment by Western military powers such as the United States and Germany signals that directed-energy defense systems are set to become a major focus of defense procurement programs in the years ahead.

原文來源： 查看原文