The defense industrial base for directed energy weapons (DEWs) suffers from inconsistent demand, insufficient production capabilities, limited suppliers, reliance on China for certain rare metallic elements, and labor shortages, says a new report by the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA).
Developments in different technologies have advanced the capabilities of DEWs to counter more threats—and with some systems simultaneously—and more affordably that existing weapon systems, NDIA says in Directed Energy Weapon Supply Chains: Security the Path to the Future.
“However, the U.S. Department of Defense has often wavered in its commitment to fielding DEWS at scale,” says the report, which was released on Jan. 23. “As such, current DEW supply chains, including critical raw materials, the manufacturing base and workforce, and testing infrastructure are incapable of supporting DEW deployment at scale.”
DoD is requesting more than $900 million for DEW efforts across the military services, various agencies such as the Missile Defense Agency and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, U.S. Special Operations Command, and other offices, the report says. The Army is closest to contracting production, it says, highlighting three efforts, the Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC)-HEL with Lockheed Martin [LMT], the IFPC-HPM with Epirus, and the Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense, which includes RTX [RTX] and Kord Technologies.
The various HEL and HPM efforts within DoD “are a step in the right direction,” NDIA says, but adds that the department must take actions to enhance and strengthen the DEW supply chains.
The report focuses on two kinds of DEWs, high-energy lasers (HELs) and high-power microwaves, each with pros and cons. Some of the benefits of HELs include large firing capacity, low-cost per shot, low logistics, fire at the speed of light to engage high-speed targets, and tailored responses from warnings to damaging targets.
Potential cons associated with HELs include requiring line-of-sight to targets, susceptibility to atmospheric disruptions based on the environment and weather, single target engagements at a time, heavy to operate, and limited effectiveness with lower-power systems if targets are shielded, have reflective materials, or are rotating, which lessens focus on a target area to cause enough damage.
Advantages of HPMs include large firing capacity and low-cost per shot, rapid engagement times, tailored responses to targets, more effective than HELs in different atmospheric conditions, non-lethal option, and ability to destroy unshielded electronic systems, including drone swarms.
Challenges with HPMs include a wide target aperture that becomes less effective the longer the range and “ill-suited for engaging targets such as hypersonic missiles or aircraft,” potential damage to friendly equipment if unshielded, limited by size, weight, and power constraints.