Pentagon Tests Lasers and Microwaves as Answer to Drone Swarms

The U.S. military is testing laser and microwave weapons designed to counter the growing threat of drone swarms, according to a report published by Scientific American.

The report states that directed-energy weapons, which have been the subject of research and development hype for decades, may now offer the Pentagon a more affordable solution to the expensive problem of stopping unmanned aerial vehicles.

According to Scientific American, the interest in such weapons stems from the rising cost and complexity of defending against drones using conventional munitions, which are often far more expensive than the drones they are meant to destroy.

The publication reports that directed-energy systems, including lasers and high-powered microwave weapons, are being evaluated as potential tools for disabling multiple drones simultaneously or in rapid succession, a capability seen as increasingly important given the proliferation of low-cost drones in modern conflict.

Scientific American did not specify further technical details of the tests in the excerpt reviewed, and additional information on the scope, timeline, and results of the Pentagon's evaluations was not immediately available.

The report frames the development as part of a broader shift in military thinking toward cost-effective countermeasures against inexpensive, mass-produced drone threats.