UK and US militaries advance mobile directed energy weapon systems
A CLWS in convoy during a US Air Force Advanced Battle Management System demonstration. (Photo: Boeing)
Recent tests have demonstrated how the UK and US armed forces have been scaling DEWs for mobile field-based operations.
Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) are becoming more portable and more compatible, as they are mounted onto a variety of vehicles used on land, in the air and at sea by Western militaries.
While lethal man-portable variants of DEWs such as laser small arms remain some time away from mass uptake, recent tests have seen both the UK and the US armed forces studying how to multiply their use of DEWs for mobile field-based operations.
DEWs are also used in static positions as defensive shields for positions units are operating at, as protection against missile, drone or bomb attacks. More mobile
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