The United States is moving another step toward the operational evaluation of directed energy weapons for counter drone missions, with the Pentagon selecting four systems for a new homeland defence pilot programme.
The US Department of War announced the selection of four directed energy systems under an initiative led by Joint Interagency Task Force 401, known as JIATF 401. The task force is an Army led organisation responsible for coordinating counter unmanned aircraft system efforts involving the military and other government agencies.
The four systems selected for the pilot programme are AeroVironment’s Palletized High Energy Laser, Epirus’ Leonidas high powered microwave system, Kord’s Firefly high energy laser and Boeing’s Compact Laser Weapon System. The programme is intended to examine how these technologies can be used in operational environments to strengthen the protection of US military installations and other homeland assets.
According to the US Department of War, the pilot is designed to move directed energy capabilities beyond demonstrations and into a more structured operational assessment. The focus will not only be on whether the systems can defeat drone threats, but also on how effectively they can be integrated into existing defence networks and maintained over time.
US Army Brigadier General Matt Ross, director of JIATF 401, said high energy lasers and high powered microwave systems could provide additional capabilities within a layered drone defence architecture. The pilot programme is expected to help the military understand how these systems can be integrated and sustained in an operational environment.
The selection includes three laser based systems and one high powered microwave system. High energy laser weapons use concentrated electromagnetic energy to engage a target, while high powered microwave systems use electromagnetic energy to disrupt or damage electronic components. The technologies are being evaluated as potential tools against unmanned aircraft systems.
AeroVironment’s Palletized High Energy Laser is one of the systems selected for the programme. The company’s directed energy technology has previously been evaluated and used in military counter drone activities. Its inclusion in the pilot gives the US military an opportunity to examine how the system performs in a domestic installation environment.
Epirus’ Leonidas represents the high powered microwave category among the four selected systems. Unlike a conventional laser that concentrates energy on a specific target, a high powered microwave system is designed to affect the electronics of unmanned systems. This type of technology could provide another option for dealing with multiple drone threats as part of a broader counter unmanned aircraft network.
Kord’s Firefly high energy laser system and Boeing’s Compact Laser Weapon System complete the four system selection. Their inclusion allows the Pentagon to compare different directed energy approaches under operational conditions rather than relying only on controlled demonstrations.
The pilot is part of a broader US effort to strengthen counter drone capabilities. The military has increasingly focused on the threat posed by unmanned aircraft, particularly as drones become more accessible and capable. US defence organisations have been developing a range of counter unmanned aircraft technologies, including sensors, electronic systems, kinetic interceptors, directed energy weapons and command and control networks.
The Army has previously described JIATF 401 as an organisation focused on rapidly identifying and delivering counter unmanned aircraft capabilities. In September 2026, the task force announced additional contracts under its Domestic Shield initiative, which aims to improve counter drone protection for selected US Department of War facilities and assets.
The new directed energy pilot will add another layer to that wider effort. Instead of relying on a single technology, military planners are examining how multiple systems can work together to detect, track and defeat unmanned aircraft.
The Pentagon also plans to collect data during the pilot programme to evaluate practical considerations surrounding the systems. These include operational performance, reliability, operating costs and maintenance requirements. Such information can be important when determining whether a technology is suitable for long term use at military installations.
Another major consideration is integration with existing airspace and defence procedures. Counter drone systems operating inside the United States must account for civilian aviation, nearby communities and other users of national airspace. The programme is therefore expected to involve coordination between military organisations and relevant federal agencies.
The Federal Aviation Administration has previously worked with the US military on safety assessments involving directed energy systems. A live fire high energy laser demonstration at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico was used to examine potential risks to the National Airspace System. The assessment helped establish procedures for continued coordination between agencies.
The selection of these four systems does not mean that they have been declared fully operational or that they will immediately replace conventional counter drone weapons. Instead, the programme is intended to generate operational data and determine how directed energy systems can be integrated into a broader defence structure.
The Pentagon is also continuing to examine other directed energy technologies. Further testing and comparative evaluations could influence future decisions about which systems are suitable for wider deployment.
The development of these capabilities reflects the growing importance of counter drone defence for military installations. Small unmanned aircraft can present challenges because they may be relatively inexpensive compared with traditional air defence systems, while their numbers and operating methods can make detection and response difficult.
Directed energy weapons are being studied partly because they could provide an alternative response to certain drone threats. However, their effectiveness can depend on factors such as weather, range, power availability, target characteristics, system reliability and the ability to maintain continuous operations.
For the United States, the new pilot programme represents a shift from technology demonstrations toward operational experimentation. The results will help officials determine where high energy lasers and high powered microwave systems fit within the country's wider counter drone strategy.
JIATF 401 will use the information gathered from the pilot to assess how the selected technologies can be integrated, operated and sustained. The findings could eventually influence future procurement and deployment decisions for US military bases and other protected facilities.
For now, the four selected systems remain part of an evaluation programme rather than a final nationwide deployment. The Pentagon's immediate objective is to gather practical evidence about their performance and costs while determining how directed energy weapons can contribute to a layered defence against evolving drone threats.
