Landmark Deal Would Officially Add Laser Weapons to US Army Arsenal

Noah Shachtman· Aug 4, 2026 · 3:29 PM UTC ·7 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 8 views

#landmark #deal #would #officially #laser

TL;DR · WeSearch summary

For more than 50 years, the United States military and its researchers have tried to develop laser weapons. None of them panned out.But now, the US Army is about to make a working laser weapon an official part of its arsenal. The Pentagon is poised to sign a contract to acquire and rapidly deploy what’s called an Enduring High Energy Laser in and around bases across the world to defend them from drone attacks, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Key facts

▪For more than 50 years, the United States military and its researchers have tried to develop laser weapons.
▪None of them panned out.But now, the US Army is about to make a working laser weapon an official part of its arsenal.
▪The Pentagon is poised to sign a contract to acquire and rapidly deploy what’s called an Enduring High Energy Laser in and around bases across the world to defend them from drone attacks, according to sources familiar with the matter.

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Original publisher	WIRED
Canonical URL	https://www.wired.com/story/landmark-deal-would-officially-add-laser-weapons-to-us-army-arsenal/
Publication time	Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:29:45 +0000
Retrieval time	2026-08-04T15:35:41.627Z
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand

Noah ShachtmanSecurityAug 4, 2026 11:29 AMLandmark Deal Would Officially Add Laser Weapons to US Army ArsenalFacing a growing drone threat, the Pentagon is poised to sign a first-of-its-kind contract for “Enduring High Energy Lasers”—and make directed energy weapons an official part of the Army’s kit.Photo-Illustration: Jobanny Cabrera; Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyThey stuffed a real-life ray gun into a 747 to shoot down ballistic missiles and stuck a laser on top of a Humvee to zap roadside bombs. For more than 50 years, the United States military and its researchers have tried to develop laser weapons. None of them panned out.But now, the US Army is about to make a working laser weapon an official part of its arsenal.

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