Capability area
Directed Energy
High-energy lasers, high-power microwave and the magazine-depth argument behind them.
- Signals
- 5
- Organizations
- 0
- Installations
- 0
- Events
- 0
- Opportunities
- 2
Why this topic matters
Directed energy is the leading answer to cost-per-shot: interceptors are finite and expensive, while a laser or high-power microwave engagement is bounded mainly by power and cooling. That argument now drives counter-UAS fielding decisions, ship and ground platform integration, and prototype transitions across the services. Defense Signals tracks the test events, installations, industry participants and acquisition activity that show which directed-energy systems are actually maturing.
Latest signals
- JIATF 401 Hosts Interagency Summit to Accelerate Counter-UAS Defense
defense_acquisition · 2026-09-10
- DoD's JIATF-401 Issues 2026 Counter-UAS Technical Guide for Joint Operations
defense_acquisition · 2026-09-09
- Army High Energy Laser System Neutralizes Hostile Drones on U.S. Border
defense_acquisition · 2026-08-30
- GovCon C-Suite Shifts Signal Strategic Focus on Space, AI, and Counter-UAS
government_contracting · 2026-08-19
- Atmospheric Optical Anomalies Highlight Sensor and Directed Energy Vulnerabilities
mission_systems · 2026-08-03
Organizations in this topic
No canonical organization is named in current coverage for this topic.
Installations in this topic
No installation is named in current coverage.
Open opportunities
- MIL-PRF-XX760, Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum-Niobium Alloy, Wire Arc, Directed Energy Deposition, Additively Manufactured
DEPT OF DEFENSE.DEPT OF THE NAVY.NAVSEA.NAVSEA HQ.NAVSEA HQ · due 2026-09-23
- High Power Microwave Engineering Services
DEPT OF DEFENSE.DEPT OF THE NAVY.NAVSEA.NAVSEA WARFARE CENTER.NSWC DAHLGREN · due 2026-11-01
Upcoming events
No upcoming events recorded for this topic.
Recent activity
- Sep 10, 2026JIATF 401 Hosts Interagency Summit to Accelerate Counter-UAS Defense
- Sep 9, 2026DoD's JIATF-401 Issues 2026 Counter-UAS Technical Guide for Joint Operations
- Sep 1, 2026MIL-PRF-XX760, Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum-Niobium Alloy, Wire Arc, Directed Energy Deposition, Additively Manufactured
- Aug 30, 2026Army High Energy Laser System Neutralizes Hostile Drones on U.S. Border
- Aug 19, 2026GovCon C-Suite Shifts Signal Strategic Focus on Space, AI, and Counter-UAS
- Aug 13, 2026High Power Microwave Engineering Services
- Aug 3, 2026Atmospheric Optical Anomalies Highlight Sensor and Directed Energy Vulnerabilities
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