Within Laser vs Microwave
Why Directed Energy Still Needs Backup
Lasers and microwaves reduce some missile costs and fragment risks, but they still need guns, interceptors and electronic warfare around them.
On this page
- What missiles and guns still do better
- How directed energy changes cost per engagement pressure
- Why commanders treat no single layer as perfect
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Introduction
Lasers and high-power microwaves can change the economics of air defence, but they do not eliminate the need for missiles, guns or electronic warfare. The central lesson emerging from military testing and procurement programmes is that directed energy works best as an additional layer rather than a replacement layer. Lasers excel at precise, low-cost engagements against individual drones and some other aerial threats. Microwaves can disrupt groups of electronically dependent targets. Yet both technologies have operational limits tied to weather, line-of-sight, power generation, target characteristics, engagement geometry and the risk of incomplete effects. As a result, commanders continue to design air-defence networks around multiple overlapping tools so that the weakness of one layer is covered by another. [GAO+2Defence Science Review]gao.govScience & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — Directed energy weapons (DEW) use concentrated electromagnetic energy t…
What Missiles and Guns Still Do Better
Directed energy systems are often discussed as alternatives to expensive interceptors, but several important missions still favour conventional weapons.
Missiles remain the preferred option when a threat must be destroyed at longer range, in poor weather, or before it reaches the engagement envelope of a laser or microwave system. A missile can pursue manoeuvring targets beyond line-of-sight conditions that would complicate a laser engagement. It also offers a more predictable kill mechanism against hardened or larger threats. Even programmes pursuing advanced laser defences continue to frame them as components of broader missile-defence architectures rather than complete substitutes. [Tom's Hardware]tomshardware.comThe JLWS is a containerized high-energy laser system intended to neutralize cruise missiles and other advanced threats. Designed to scale…
Guns also retain advantages. Modern cannon-based close-in weapon systems can engage targets during rain, haze or battlefield obscurants that may reduce laser effectiveness. They provide a rapid-response last line of defence when a threat survives earlier layers or appears suddenly at short range. In many air-defence architectures, guns remain the final kinetic safety net after missiles, electronic warfare and directed energy options have been used. [Defence Science Review]defencesciencereview.com.plpdf 216776 1350521, laser-based directed energy weapons are integrated within a layered air- defence architecture alongside kinetic…Read more…
Electronic warfare occupies another role that neither lasers nor microwaves fully replace. Jamming, spoofing and cyber-enabled disruption can interfere with drone navigation, communications and coordination without requiring physical destruction. Some targets may be defeated more efficiently through electronic attack than through direct energy exposure. Modern counter-drone doctrine increasingly treats electronic warfare, high-power microwaves and kinetic weapons as complementary rather than competing categories. [arXiv+2defencefinancemonitor.com]arxiv.orgElectronic Warfare Cyberattacks, Countermeasures and Modern Defensive Strategies of UAV Avionics: A SurveyApril 10, 2025…
How Directed Energy Changes Cost-Per-Engagement Pressure
The strongest argument for lasers and microwaves is not that they make other layers obsolete. It is that they reduce pressure on expensive interceptors.
Small drones and loitering munitions have created a difficult economic problem for defenders. Adversaries can often launch relatively inexpensive aerial systems in large numbers, while defenders may respond with missiles costing many times more than the target. Directed energy offers a way to shift that balance by providing low marginal costs per engagement once the system is deployed. RAND analysts have argued that directed energy could relieve pressure on missile inventories and help preserve scarce kinetic munitions for higher-value threats. [RAND Corporation]rand.orgIf the technology can be matured,RAND CorporationDirected Energy: The Focus on Laser Weapons Intensifies25 Jan 2024 — Directed energy weapons offer a more cost-efficient…
This effect is particularly important during sustained attacks. If a laser can remove individual drones and a microwave system can affect multiple drones in a raid, commanders may reserve missiles for cruise missiles, larger unmanned aircraft or threats that survive earlier defensive layers. The result is not the elimination of missiles but more selective missile use. [RTX+2DroneShield]rtx.comPhaser High-Power Microwave System | RaytheonDefending at the speed of light. The Phaser high-power microwave system uses directed ene…
Recent demonstrations illustrate why planners are interested. High-power microwave developers have highlighted the ability to affect many drones in a single engagement, while laser programmes emphasise repeated firing without the ammunition constraints associated with guns and missiles. These capabilities are attractive precisely because they reduce the burden on traditional air-defence magazines during mass-drone attacks. [Tom's Hardware+2RTX]tomshardware.comTom's Hardware High-power microwave system downs 49 drones in one shotelectronics warfare company, successfully demonstrated a major advancement in counter-drone technology with its Leonidas high-power micro…
Why Commanders Treat No Single Layer as Perfect
The logic of layered defence comes from uncertainty. Every defensive tool can fail under certain conditions.
A laser may struggle with atmospheric interference, insufficient dwell time, target manoeuvres or saturation attacks involving many simultaneous targets. A microwave system may not affect every target equally, particularly if drones differ in design, shielding or electronic architecture. Electronic warfare can be less effective against autonomous systems that do not rely heavily on external communications. Missiles and guns, meanwhile, face inventory constraints and cost pressures. [GAO+2Defence Science Review]gao.govScience & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — Directed energy weapons (DEW) use concentrated electromagnetic energy t…
Because these limitations differ, combining systems creates resilience. A drone that resists jamming may still be vulnerable to a microwave pulse. A target unaffected by a microwave burst may be destroyed by a laser. A threat that penetrates both directed-energy layers can still be engaged by guns or missiles. Defence planners therefore focus less on finding a single decisive technology and more on ensuring that multiple engagement opportunities exist. [AFRL+2defencefinancemonitor.com]afrl.af.milDirected Energy Futures 2060 Final29June21 with clearance number2060 directed energy futures16 Jul 2021 — In this section we described DE usage in 2020 focusing on electronic warfare and high-power…
This philosophy is increasingly visible in military concepts and industry demonstrations. Directed-energy systems are routinely presented as components within sensor networks, command-and-control systems, electronic warfare suites and kinetic defences rather than as stand-alone solutions. The objective is to create overlapping defensive options that reduce the chance of a successful attack even when one layer performs below expectations. [Defence Science Review+2GAO]defencesciencereview.com.plpdf 216776 1350521, laser-based directed energy weapons are integrated within a layered air- defence architecture alongside kinetic…Read more…
The Governance Question: Buying Capacity Rather Than a Wonder Weapon
For defence policymakers, the most important decision is often not whether to buy lasers or microwaves. It is how to integrate them into a balanced force structure.
Investing heavily in a single defensive technology can create new vulnerabilities if adversaries discover ways around it. Layered architectures spread risk across different mechanisms of action. They also allow militaries to tailor responses according to threat type, weather conditions, rules of engagement and ammunition availability. A commander facing a lone reconnaissance drone, a swarm of inexpensive quadcopters and a cruise missile may need three different engagement methods within the same operation. [GAO+2RAND Corporation]gao.govScience & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — Directed energy weapons (DEW) use concentrated electromagnetic energy t…
The emerging policy trend is therefore integration rather than replacement. Directed energy adds valuable new options, especially against large numbers of inexpensive aerial threats. However, the enduring lesson of air defence remains unchanged: survivability comes from overlapping layers, not from any single weapon system. Lasers and microwaves may alter the balance among those layers, but they do not remove the need for the others. [Defence Science Review+2RAND Corporation]defencesciencereview.com.plpdf 216776 1350521, laser-based directed energy weapons are integrated within a layered air- defence architecture alongside kinetic…Read more…
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Endnotes
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Source: gao.gov
Link: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-106717Source snippet
Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — Directed energy weapons (DEW) use concentrated electromagnetic energy t...
Published: May 2023
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Source: rand.org
Title: If the technology can be matured,
Link: https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/01/directed-energy-the-focus-on-laser-weapons-intensifies.htmlSource snippet
RAND CorporationDirected Energy: The Focus on Laser Weapons Intensifies25 Jan 2024 — Directed energy weapons offer a more cost-efficient...
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Source: arxiv.org
Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.07358Source snippet
Electronic Warfare Cyberattacks, Countermeasures and Modern Defensive Strategies of UAV Avionics: A SurveyApril 10, 2025...
Published: April 10, 2025
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Source: defencefinancemonitor.com
Title: non kinetic counter uas with high
Link: https://www.defencefinancemonitor.com/p/non-kinetic-counter-uas-with-highSource snippet
Non-Kinetic Counter-UAS with High Power Microwave8 Dec 2025 — In a layered approach, HPM weapons can form a middle layer between “soft ki...
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Source: rtx.com
Link: https://www.rtx.com/raytheon/what-we-do/integrated-air-and-missile-defense/phaser-high-power-microwaveSource snippet
Phaser High-Power Microwave System | RaytheonDefending at the speed of light. The Phaser high-power microwave system uses directed ene...
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Source: droneshield.com
Link: https://www.droneshield.com/blog/a-counter-to-drone-[swarmsSource snippet
A Counter to Drone Swarms: High-Power Microwave...Military forces must prioritise a counter to drone swarming tactics with which inexpen...
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Source: defencefinancemonitor.com
Title: directed energy weapons in 20252035
Link: https://www.defencefinancemonitor.com/p/directed-energy-weapons-in-20252035Source snippet
Directed Energy Weapons in 2025–2035: Development...23 May 2025 — By 2030, DragonFire-derived lasers (potentially scaled to ~100 kW) cou...
Published: May 2025
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Source: defencesciencereview.com.pl
Title: pdf 216776 135052
Link: https://www.defencesciencereview.com.pl/pdf-216776-135052?filename=Laser-Based-Directed-Ener.pdfSource snippet
1, laser-based directed energy weapons are integrated within a layered air- defence architecture alongside kinetic...Read more...
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Source: tomshardware.com
Link: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/pentagon-budget-documents-reveal-its-pursuing-containerized-300kw-laser-weapons-ambitious-joint-laser-weapon-system-designed-to-shoot-down-cruise-missiles-system-part-of-usd17-9-billion-golden-dome-missile-defense-initiativeSource snippet
The JLWS is a containerized high-energy laser system intended to neutralize cruise missiles and other advanced threats. Designed to scale...
-
Source: afrl.af.mil
Title: Directed Energy Futures 2060 Final29June21 with clearance number
Link: https://www.afrl.af.mil/Portals/90/Documents/RD/Directed_Energy_Futures_2060_Final29June21_with_clearance_number.pdfSource snippet
2060 directed energy futures16 Jul 2021 — In this section we described DE usage in 2020 focusing on electronic warfare and high-power...
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Source: tomshardware.com
Title: Tom’s Hardware High-power microwave system downs 49 drones in [one shot]({{ ‘one-shot/’ | relative_url }})
Link: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/high-power-microwave-system-downs-49-drones-in-one-shot-weaponized-electromagnetic-interference-erases-drone-swarms-en-masseSource snippet
electronics warfare company, successfully demonstrated a major advancement in counter-drone technology with its Leonidas high-power micro...
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Source: lockheedmartin.com
Link: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/directed-energy.htmlSource snippet
Directed Energy | Lockheed MartinExperience the potential of our laser weapons and directed energy weapon technologies, providing afforda...
Additional References
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Source: researchgate.net
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/403676537_Laser-Based_Directed_Energy_Weapons_Technological_Capabilities_Material_Interaction_and_Strategic_Deployment_PathwaysSource snippet
(PDF) Laser-Based Directed Energy WeaponsThis review aims to evaluate the current capabilities of laser-based Directed Energy Weapons (DE...
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Source: csbaonline.org
Link: https://csbaonline.org/uploads/documents/CSBA_ChangingTheGame_ereader.pdfSource snippet
The Promise of Directed-Energy Weaponsby M GUNZINGER · Cited by 53 — For example, a high-energy laser weapon integrated with a ship's ant...
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Source: digitalcommons.ndu.edu
Link: https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1046&context=defense-tech-papersSource snippet
Energy Weapons – Are We There Yet?by E Zimet · 2009 · Cited by 15 — In December 2007, the Defense Science Board (DSB) concluded directed...
Published: December 2007
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Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5GLxs7U5lkSource snippet
The Microwave Cannons Built to Stop Drone SwarmsHPM systems emit electromagnetic energy at power levels high enough to couple into electr...
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Source: thedefensewatch.com
Title: china ni hp1000 high power microwave system targets drone swarms
Link: https://thedefensewatch.com/cyber-space-defense/china-ni-hp1000-high-power-microwave-system-targets-drone-swarms/Source snippet
China Unveils NI-HP1000 High-Power Microwave System...22 Apr 2026 — China unveils NI-HP1000 high-power microwave system designed to defe...
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Source: coherentmarketinsights.com
Title: directed energy weapons in counter drone missile defense 3576
Link: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/blog/aerospace-and-defense/directed-energy-weapons-in-counter-drone-missile-defense-3576Source snippet
Directed Energy Weapons in CounterDrone Missile Defense4 May 2026 — The high-energy lasers that are being used to defeat any aerial threa...
Published: May 2026
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Source: aspistrategist.org.au
Title: a counter to drone swarms high power microwave weapons
Link: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/a-counter-to-drone-swarms-high-power-microwave-weapons/Source snippet
A counter to drone swarms: high-power microwave weapons12 May 2025 — HPM weapons work by emitting directed bursts of electromagnetic ener...
Published: May 2025
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Source: millilux.io
Link: https://www.millilux.io/defence-and-security/directed-energy-weapons-in-serviceSource snippet
From Theory to Theatre: Directed Energy Weapons in Service9 May 2026 — For decades, directed energy weapons sat firmly in the realm of th...
Published: May 2026
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Source: epirusinc.com
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/electronic-warfareSource snippet
N) semiconductors for unmatched counter-electronics effects.Read more...
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Source: marketdataforecast.com
Title: europe directed energy weapons market
Link: https://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/europe-directed-energy-weapons-marketSource snippet
Report21 Apr 2026 — The Europe directed energy weapons market was valued at USD 2.34 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 9.76 b...
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