Pentagon chief Hegseth personally observed laser weapon testing for the first time
Kyiv • UNN
Pete Hegseth and Emil Michael attended a demonstration of laser and microwave weapons at the White Sands Missile Range. Over $2 billion has been allocated for the development of such weapons by 2027.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and U.S. Department of Defense Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael visited a demonstration of laser and microwave weapons in New Mexico. This was reported by UNN citing Axios.
Details
According to the media, this is the first known instance "of a sitting U.S. Secretary of Defense personally observing a live test of directed energy weapons." Among the weapons demonstrated at the White Sands Missile Range was the Army's multi-purpose high-energy laser, built on the basis of AeroVironment's LOCUST system.
The Trump administration's budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 allocates over $2 billion for research and development of directed energy weapons
In addition, powerful lasers — 300 or 600 kilowatts — are expected to be installed aboard the Trump-class battleships, each of which is estimated at approximately $17 billion.
Reminder
Israel sent advanced weapons systems, including an upgraded laser, to the United Arab Emirates to help protect the Gulf monarchy from Iranian missile and drone strikes.