Army To Field Joint Laser Weapon System By July 2028, Pentagon’s Critical Tech Lead Says

The US Army plans to field a Joint Laser Weapon System by July 2028, according to the Pentagon official overseeing critical technology. The effort centers on a containerized directed-energy weapon rated at roughly 500 kilowatts, substantially above many current tactical laser demonstrators. A laser at that power is intended to offer deep magazines and low marginal shot cost against selected airborne threats, provided tracking, power and thermal systems perform as designed. The stated date is a fielding objective, with testing, integration and reliability work still required before operational use.