Lockheed Martin has been selected by the U.S. Department of War to develop a tactical, containerized 500-kilowatt Joint Laser Weapon System (JLWS). This award positions the company at the forefront of the United States' evolving defense architecture against emerging threats like cruise missiles and large-scale unmanned aerial systems. The initiative aims to provide a deployable, high-energy laser capability to protect critical assets such as air bases, ports, and logistics hubs.
The development is part of a broader effort led by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. The Department awarded two agreements to Lockheed Martin and another vendor with a combined initial value of $86 million and a potential total program ceiling of $847 million. This significant contract marks a crucial step in transitioning directed-energy technology from an experimental phase to a combat-ready, operational capability for U.S. forces.