{
  "id": 12309670,
  "title": "No missiles, no bullets: US picks 4 weapons to destroy drone swarms at light speed",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/no-missiles-no-bullets-us-picks-4-weapons-to-destroy-drone-swarms-at",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-06T05:32:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/defence/international/no-missiles-no-bullets-us-picks-4-new-laser-microwave-weapons-to-destroy-drone-swarms-at-the-speed-of-light/articleshow/134724109.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United States has chosen four cutting-edge laser and high powered microwave weapon systems for operational testing in a bid to bolster defenses against the escalating drone menace to military facilities and vital infrastructure. The decision comes from a report by the US Department of War, which outlines plans to assess the systems within a directed energy pilot programme overseen by Joint Interagency Task Force 401. This task force is responsible for creating and coordinating counter-drone measures aimed at safeguarding the nation's homeland.\n\nThis shift signals a transition from relying solely on traditional interceptors to experimenting with directed energy weapons in real-world settings. The four systems being evaluated for the pilot programme comprise 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. These weapons represent two primary categories of directed energy technology that the US military is exploring to counter unmanned aerial systems.\n\nHigh energy lasers function by concentrating electromagnetic energy to target specific components of a drone, delivering sufficient heat to damage critical elements and potentially destroy the aircraft. The US Army highlights the cost-effectiveness of directed energy systems, noting that a single shot can potentially neutralize multiple threats, offering a more economical alternative to conventional kinetic interceptors. Furthermore, lasers operate at the speed of light, eliminating the need for conventional ammunition. However, their efficacy hinges on the ability to maintain the beam on the target, which can be challenged by atmospheric conditions and other variables.\n\nConversely, high powered microwave weapons employ electromagnetic energy to disrupt a drone's electronic systems. According to the US Office of Naval Research, HPM systems are designed to cause damage or temporary disruption to electronic components, while their broader beams can simultaneously engage multiple electronic targets. The US Army has conducted tests on HPM systems specifically engineered to disrupt, disable, or destroy multiple unmanned aircraft, positioning them as a complementary layer alongside lasers and conventional counter-drone weaponry.",
  "summary": "The United States is set to assess four cutting-edge directed energy weapon systems designed specifically for drone defense. Under a new pilot program focused on directed energy, these technologies—prominently high energy lasers and high powered microwaves—will be tested. The goal is to bolster military proficiency by crafting robust counter-drone solutions, showcasing a strategic shift towards…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}