Laser Wars

Laser Wars

The Army Is Already Ditching Its Most Powerful Laser Weapon Yet

The US Army’s 300 kilowatt Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL) system won't transition to a program of record.

Jared Keller's avatar
Jared Keller
Mar 23, 2026
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An artist’s rendering of Lockheed Martin’s 300 kilowatt Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL) system. (Lockheed Martin)

The US Army hasn’t even officially taken delivery of its most powerful high-energy laser weapon yet, but the service is already walking away from it in pursuit of a newer model.

In a new Congressional Research…

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