Rising Demand for Directed Energy C-UAS as Drone Threat Spreads Beyond Battlefield - Defense Security Monitor
AI Analysis
The Pentagon is accelerating the deployment of directed energy (DE) counter-UAS systems – both high-energy lasers and high-powered microwaves – to five U.S. military bases by year-end, driven by increasing drone threats to homeland security and the perceived benefits of reduced collateral damage. While per-shot costs are low, the overall lifecycle cost of DE systems remains substantial, as evidenced by the $95.4M contract awarded to BlueHalo for the LOCUST prototype. Concerns remain regarding the cost-effectiveness of DE against smaller, more common drones.
Key Takeaways
- Pentagon deploying DE C-UAS to Fort Bliss (TX), Fort Huachuca (AZ), Grand Forks AFB (ND), Whiteman AFB (MO), and Naval Base Kitsap (WA).
- DE systems (lasers & HPM) are favored for minimizing collateral damage, particularly in domestic environments like airports and borders.
- Per-shot cost of DE is estimated at $10-$50, significantly lower than missile-based systems.
- BlueHalo received a $95.4M contract in May 2024 for the LOCUST DE C-UAS prototype development.
- JIATF-401 is overseeing the DE C-UAS deployment effort.
Why It Matters
This deployment signals a shift towards prioritizing non-kinetic C-UAS solutions, especially in sensitive areas where collateral damage is unacceptable. The investment in DE technologies indicates a long-term commitment to addressing the evolving drone threat, but cost and effectiveness against a wide range of drone types remain key challenges. Successful implementation could reduce reliance on expensive and potentially damaging kinetic interceptors.
Rising Demand for Directed Energy C-UAS as Drone Threat Spreads Beyond Battlefield - Defense Security Monitor
Early concept for DE M-SHORAD: Lockheed Martin
A recent decision by the Pentagon to deploy high-energy laser and high-powered microwave counter-drone weapon systems to five U.S. military bases by the end of the year is a major boost for the growing segment of directed energy (DE) in defense. For a variety of reasons, the appeal of these types of systems is reaching a new peak.
On the battlefield, where widespread destruction is a foregone conclusion, the fallout from blasting hostile drones out of the sky with kinetic effects such as rockets and missiles is an acceptable risk. However, when this rain of destruction is falling on friendly positions far from the battlefield, the risk becomes harder to allow. This is an increasingly critical issue for homeland defense, especially in areas around sports stadiums, airports and international borders.
Recent events have seen the increasing use of directed energy, counter-drone technology in these domestic spaces because there is a perception of less collateral damage when a hostile UAS is disabled or destroyed.
The other big claim for the value of DE-based systems is cost, which may be true on a per-shot comparison with some forms of more expensive ordinance, even though these are usually reserved for bigger forms of hostile drone such as the Shahid. This leaves the question of cost effectiveness when facing more common and smaller forms of invasive UAS.
DE per-shot is said to cost as little as $10 to $50, while missiles can easily start in the tens-of-thousands of dollars. However, the total cost of development, procurement, training for, and deployment of more sophisticated DE systems is not as budget friendly. Just to kick things off, in May 2024, the U.S. Army awarded BlueHalo a $95.4 million contract for advanced prototype development of the DE system now known as LOCUST.
Following recently reported drone incursions over military installations and along the U.S. southern border, the deployment of DE systems – even with the offer of minimized collateral damage and cost effectiveness – still raises issues that are not likely to be resolved any time soon.
For the record, before we dive into the news, the term directed energy describes both laser systems which use a tightly focused beam of energy and high-power microwave systems, which use a wave of a more broadly dispersed field of energy to destroy targets.
Here are some of the big news announcements heralding an increasing preference in C-UAS capabilities.
The Increasing Deployment of Directed Energy C-UAS
With the announcement of a new effort in early May overseen by the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401), the Pentagon selected Fort Bliss in Texas, Fort Huachuca in Arizona, Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota, Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, and Naval Base Kitsap in Washington for the directed energy, counte