US Counter-Drone Firm ACS Launches Directed Energy Division to Build High-Energy Lasers

Allen Control Systems, the US developer of the Bullfrog autonomous counter-drone weapon station, established a Directed Energy division on 10 November 2026 to pursue high-energy laser systems. The Austin-based company appointed former US Army Space and Missile Defense Command specialists Amanda Clark and John Mason to lead directed-energy work and laser programme development. ACS intends to extend its counter-UAS portfolio beyond kinetic gun systems, with laser concepts that may reuse existing tracking and target-engagement expertise. The announcement creates an organisational development capability, but no funded laser production award, final weapon power class, fielding schedule or completed demonstration was disclosed.