The Pentagon's Looming Laser Weapon Supply Chain Problem

Critical minerals may be the most significant barrier to rapidly scaling high-energy laser weapons across the US military.

A Chinese People’s Liberation Army LY-1 laser weapon system at a military parade in Beijing on September 3, 2025. (China News Service)

After decades of research and development, the US military is kicking its efforts to field mature high-energy laser weapons into high gear.

In November, the US Defense Department unveiled an updated list of critical techno…