The U.S. military, which has invested billions in developing its own high-energy laser weapons to shoot down drones, now faces a blind spot: the threat of an adversary using the same technology against it. China fields laser weapons with ranges up to 25 kilometers, Russia's Peresvet system is reportedly active, and laser systems are proliferating globally through indigenous programs and exports. This has forced a new priority on the Pentagon's radar.
The answer being explored is a nascent field called counter-directed energy weapons (CDEW). No dedicated CDEW system is publicly known to have been deployed, and most R&D remains conceptual. However, a 2023 study published in the Journal of Directed Energy by researchers at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School provides the clearest public picture of what defending against a laser attack might entail.
The shift marks a recognition that the U.S. is no longer operating from a position of unilateral technological advantage in directed energy. The NPS study details potential defensive measures, but the gap between theory and fielded hardware remains wide. As Chinese and Russian systems mature, the timeline for deploying CDEW may be pressing.
For the broader defense industry, this opens a new niche for startups and established contractors. Countermeasures against laser weapons could require novel materials, sensors, and tactics, creating opportunities for innovation. Yet the high cost and complexity of directed energy systems mean that progress will likely be measured in years, not months.
The Pentagon has not publicly disclosed specific CDEW programs or budgets, but the growing threat suggests funding will increase. The challenge lies not just in technology but in integration: a system that can detect, track, and neutralize an enemy laser beam before it hits its target demands near-instantaneous response times.