USA: Laser Weapons to Scale in Two Years, Pentagon Targets 2028 Demonstration

The U.S. military is accelerating the development of high-energy laser weapons, aiming for field deployment at scale within two years. The Pentagon's focus is on overcoming engineering challenges to transform prototypes into mass-producible capabilities. This initiative is tied to President Trump's 'Golden Dome for America' missile shield, which relies heavily on directed energy systems. Despite past failures in laser weapon programs, the current push is driven by significant funding and operational urgency, particularly in response to threats from Iran.