US Defense Shows Directed Energy Weapon Demo at White Sands

On June 23, the U.S. Department of Defense staged a live demonstration of directed‑energy weapons at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Five systems were showcased, including high‑power lasers of 20, 50, and 300 kW, as well as two microwave platforms. The laser systems—AMP‑HEL from AeroVironment, DE‑MSHORAD from nLight, and the 300 kW Valkyrie from Lockheed Martin—were paired with the microwave Leonidas from Epirus and the Coyote drone‑mounted microwave system from Raytheon. The Pentagon said it plans to acquire dozens to hundreds of such systems in the coming years to counter the growing threat of inexpensive drones, and is pursuing a program to field up to 24 operational laser systems by the end of 2027.