As the megawatt project moves forward, the Army is close to capitalizing on a seven-year investment plan. The service has demonstrated four types of defensive lasers since 2019:
The fixed, 10-20-kW Palletized High-Energy Laser for base defense against small drones.
The 10-20-kW Army Multi-Purpose High-Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) systems for mobile defense on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV).
The mobile 50-kW Directed Energy Maneuver-Short-Range Air Defense system on a Stryker vehicle.
The mobile, 300-kW Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High-Energy Laser.
The AeroVironment Locust, an AMP-HEL-funded system, reportedly was blamed for the errant, albeit successful, shootdowns of a balloon and a Customs and Border Protection agency drone in El Paso in February. Those incidents also served to demonstrate that the systems could be effective against real threats.
