Laser Wars

Laser Wars

The Air Force Is Revisiting Laser Weapons for Base Defense

The US Air Force is reconsidering high-energy laser weapons for airbase defense at home and abroad after abandoning earlier efforts.

Jared Keller's avatar
Jared Keller
Mar 09, 2026
∙ Paid
A Raytheon High-Energy Laser Weapon System mounted on a Polaris MRZR lightweight tactical vehicle. (Raytheon)

The US Air Force is once again considering high-energy laser weapons to defend bases against the rising threat of low-cost weaponized drones, according to a newly released contracting notice.

In a new request for information (RFI) published on Mar…

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