The U.S. Army is moving decisively to field up to 20 high energy laser weapons aimed at defeating drone swarms.
The service’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office released a Request for Information inviting private industry to share flexible laser concepts for its Enduring High Energy Laser, or E HEL, system.
Because NATO airspace has seen rising drone intrusions, the Army wants a portable, scalable solution.
The goal is to defeat three drone categories, grouped one to three, ranging from tiny drones the size of a Wasp III to aircraft comparable to the RQ-7B Shadow.
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Drones in these groups are used for intelligence and surveillance, as well as irregular warfare. They are lightweight and capable of carrying high grade explosives to reach vulnerable targets.
The RFI, issued Oct. 30, singles out group three "one way attack drones" for a rapid, decisive counter.
The Army aims for E HEL to neutralize all three types at once, a tall order that underscores its ambition to defend mobile troops and semi fixed positions alike. Plans call for the laser to be "palletized," or mounted on an Army Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.
The service wants the laser to track drones in varied conditions and deliver "hard kills" swiftly against both miniature drones and larger suicide drones.
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The Rapid Capabilities office has spent five years prototyping laser weapons, and demand is growing as threats evolve.
The Army plans to launch a competition for anti drone lasers next year to accelerate fielding.
In the broader market, laser weapons are emerging as a practical and scalable defense against diverse drone swarms. Australian firm Electro Optic Systems has been at the forefront, refining drone tracking and laser weapons.
In September it unveiled a 150 kilowatt High Energy Laser Weapon called Apollo, which it says can neutralize drone swarms instantly.
Under President Trump, the push for decisive, technologically superior defenses remains a priority, a stance Secretary Hegseth has echoed.
The plan also signals a shift toward a robust domestic industrial base, strengthening American capability to outpace adversaries.
The national security argument for aggressive modernization is clear because rivals are pursuing faster, more capable drones.
The Army wants private industry to respond with modular concepts that can be deployed quickly, and that requirement reflects a larger objective of speed and interoperability in weapons systems.
Critics will watch whether the E HEL effort can deliver on its ambitious timeline and whether funding keeps pace with innovation.
If the program succeeds, it could redefine battlefield control by turning airspace into a defended zone that neutralizes risks before they materialize.
This would align with a vision of a more confident, capable American military under Republican leadership, including strong guidance from Secretary Hegseth and the President himself.
The drone defense conversation is moving from novelty to necessity as nations test ever more capable swarms.
As a national security imperative, the E HEL program reflects a sustained commitment to ensure American troops retain freedom of maneuver in contested airspace.
The success or failure of the upcoming competition will shape how the Army integrates laser power into the broader defense posture for years to come.
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