The Department of War announced that five installations have been chosen to participate in a directed‑energy counter‑unmanned aircraft systems pilot program under the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. The selected sites—Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Fort Bliss, Texas; Naval Base Kitsap, Washington; Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota; and Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri—were selected to enable rigorous testing and operational assessment in varied environments. The program will accelerate the fielding and evaluation of advanced directed‑energy capabilities, including high‑energy lasers and high‑powered microwave systems, to protect critical infrastructure and homeland missions. Joint demonstrations with the FAA at White Sands Missile Range validated the systems’ safety for passenger aircraft. Within the next 180 days, the department will finalize deployment plans with installation commanders, aiming to begin operations later this year.
© U.S. Government.
Summary adapted from https://war.gov
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