High Energy Laser Advanced Component Development & Prototype

Abstract

This program supports the Department’s initiatives to build a sustainable and long-term advantage, as well as a resilient joint force and defense ecosystem. This program reduces the technology risk, engineering integration, and life-cycle costs associated with directed energy weapon systems. Conducting competitive prototyping of system elements to inform requirements, this program will develop functional and allocated baselines of end-item system configurations. Directed energy weapon systems have many potential advantages, including speed-of-light time-to-target, high precision, low incremental cost per kill, and a magazine that is recharged through on-board, fuel-based power and thermal management systems that reduce logistics requirements in contrast to stocks of munitions or warheads. As a result, directed energy weapon systems have the potential to perform a wide variety of military missions. Activities conducted under this program will evaluate, prototype, and demonstrate directed-energy integrated technologies in operationally relevant environments, enabling the employment of directed energy weapon systems in support of mission areas across the Department of Defense.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2025
Source ID
0604924D8Z_4_0400_PB_2025
Change Summary Explanation
The increase in FY 2025 of $2.925 million is the result of a internal realignments from (1) 0602890D8Z: High Energy Laser Development (0.727 million) and (2) 0603924D8Z: High Energy Laser Advanced Development (2.228 million). In addition to the internal realignments, a reduction of $-0.030 million was applied to meet DoD overall funding reductions, which were spread to mitigate impact. This overall increase is in support of the evaluation, development, and demonstration of directed energy advanced components and prototypes. Small increase of due to economic assumptions.
Service Agency Name
Office of the Secretary Of Defense

Entities

Organizations

  • Office of the Secretary of Defense

Tags

Readers

  • Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Engineering.
  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy

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