The US Army is reviewing a plan to equip next-generation large reconnaissance drones with advanced energy weapons such as laser weapons, according to reports. The US Army is pursuing a concept to mount high-power lasers on Group 4 and 5 large drones weighing approximately 600 kg or more, according to a report by Interesting Engineering, a US science and technology media outlet.
The plan is part of the US Department of Defense's effort to accelerate development of directed-energy weapons, with high-power lasers being one of the six core technology priorities currently designated by the Pentagon. The move is assessed as one of the biggest changes to the US Army's drone operations since the operational deployment of General Atomics' "MQ-1C Gray Eagle" drone, its mainstay unmanned aircraft.
US Army leadership has determined that laser weapons are an essential component of next-generation drone capability systems. There are also observations that the project will support the "Golden Dome" missile defense project pursued by the Trump administration. The US Army said, "It will not be mounted on all Group 4 and 5 drones," adding, "It will be added selectively depending on the operational environment."
In this regard, General Atomics has long discussed various laser projects with US government agencies. General Atomics said, "By the time the US Army issues a project bid proposal, the short takeoff and landing (STOL) reconnaissance drone solution will also be at a stage of completion through repeated testing and improvement, and we can expect enhanced combat power from mounting laser weapons."
C. Mark Brinkley, a General Atomics spokesperson, said, "A laser weapon will be mounted that is capable of all of the following: damaging the optical devices of enemy drones, burning the airframe, melting plastic, and overheating electronic circuits," adding, "We have entered an era of using it as a force that can continuously shoot down large drones floating in the sky like unlimited ammunition."
In fact, General Atomics is also pursuing cooperation with Aurelius Systems, a defense technology startup. Aurelius has already completed technology verification by integrating its "Archimedes Laser," rated at under 10 kilowatts (kW), into the Gray Eagle reconnaissance drone. Aurelius said, "The Archimedes unit is light and compact enough to be mounted on the Gray Eagle's external pylon."
Regarding this cooperation, the Army provided about $100,000 to Aurelius through the FUZE venture funding support program. Recently, Aurelius proved its technological capabilities by successfully demonstrating the shooting down of several small drones from the ground using the Archimedes laser. The US Army plans to issue a formal request for proposals (RFP) soon to push the project forward in earnest.
