Printed from https://fiscalreceipts.com/program/0601108D8Z/ — data as of July 2, 2026. Every figure is citation-backed; see the page online for per-number provenance.
High Energy Laser Research Initiatives
Budget Figures
- FY24
- $15.8M
- FY25
- $16.5M
- FY26
- $16.8M
FY2026 award data is a partial year — USASpending awards are reported on a rolling basis and the fiscal year does not close until September 30. why →
No research dossier for this program — dossiers cover 50 of 326 programs, ranked by FY2026 requested dollars. why →
Budget Line Items(workbook-cited)
Exhibit R-1
| Account | Org | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide | OSD | FY24 Actuals | $15.8M |
| Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide | OSD | FY25 Enacted | $16.5M |
| Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide | OSD | FY25 Total | $16.5M |
| Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide | OSD | FY26 Disc. Request | $16.8M |
| Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide | OSD | FY26 Total | $16.8M |
Budget Details(R-2/P-40 facts)
| Project | All Prior Years | FY24 Actuals | FY25 Total | FY26 Base | FY26 Request |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Element | $40.5M | $15.8M | $16.5M | $16.8M | $16.8M |
| 108: High Energy Laser Research Initiatives | $40.5M | $15.8M | $16.5M | $16.8M | $16.8M |
Program Narratives
Mission— High Energy Laser Research Initiatives
This program is executed via the Joint Directed Energy Transition Office (JDETO) in alignment with the Department of Defense Directed Energy Roadmap, as well as other strategic guidance. Section 219 of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act designated a senior official for directed energy and redesignated a legacy office as the JDETO with reporting to the senior official. Currently, the Principal Director for Directed Energy serves as this senior official and updates the Department of Defense Directed Energy Roadmap on an annual basis. The goal of this program, in turn, is to support the Department’s initiatives in directed energy to build a sustainable and long-term advantage, in addition to a resilient Joint force and defense ecosystem. This program funds basic research in directed energy to enable game-changing high energy laser and high power microwave technologies. These efforts provide fundamental scientific knowledge to support future Department of Defense directed energy weapon systems. In practice, directed energy weapon systems have many potential advantages, including speed-of-light time-to-target, high precision, low incremental cost per kill, and a magazine that is recharged through on-board, fuel-based power and thermal management systems that reduce logistics requirements in contrast to stocks of munitions or warheads. As a result, directed energy weapon systems have the potential to perform a wide variety of military missions. Activities conducted under this program are generally chosen for their potential to grow the directed energy workforce with next-generation scientists and engineers. This program is part of an overall Department of Defense strategy in Joint directed energy basic research. Efforts within this program will leverage multi-disciplinary university research institutes (both domestic and international) to stimulate student interest in directed energy and encourage research in topics related to high energy laser and high power microwave technologies. This program builds upon other investments in directed energy basic research by the Services and Agencies to harmonize Department efforts and eliminate duplication. In support, efforts in this program have been coordinated with the Department of Defense Directed Energy and Non-Lethal Weapons Science and Technology Community of Interest. This program is executed via a technical program within the JDETO referred to as the Directed Energy Center of Excellence Program, which enables (1) basic research in directed energy technology that supports workforce development with university partners and (2) international collaboration between universities in the United States and partner countries. Note that (1) and (2) are in alignment with the near-, mid-, and long-term goals of Department of Defense Directed Energy Roadmap and encourage transition.
Accomplishments & Planned Programs (2)
Directed Energy Center of Excellence Program
The Directed Energy Center of Excellence Program is a technical program within the JDETO that enables (1) basic research in directed energy technology that supports workforce development with university partners and (2) international collaboration between universities in the United States and partner countries. Note that (1) and (2) are in alignment with the near-, mid-, and long-term goals of the Department of Defense Directed Energy Roadmap.
Directed Energy Foundational Research
Improve the fundamental understanding and modeling of high energy laser and high power microwave sources and devices. Improve the fundamental understanding and modeling of beam control technologies as they relate to high energy laser applications and high power microwaves. Conduct research in atmospheric characterization, metrology, control systems, algorithms, waveguides, antennas and beam control component technology.
No follow-the-dollar view — this program's awards haven't been crosswalked at high confidence (flows cover 17 of 326 programs). why →
Lobbying Mentions
Showing 25 of 488 from the Senate LDA disclosure database.
S 2226/HR 2670 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 including issues related to aircraft, helicopte
S (not yet introduced)/HR 8774 - Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2025 including issues related to aircraft, he
S (not yet introduced)/HR 8774 - Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2025 including issues related to aircraft, he
S 3909 - Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2024 including issues related to requiring the Federal Communications Commission to au
S 4638/HR 8070 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, Title 8, including issues related to acquisiti
HR 1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Title II, including issues related to aircraft, space programs, intelligence programs
HR 1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Title II, including issues related to aircraft, space programs, intelligence programs
S 2354/HR 5342 - Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 including issues related to c
Educating Congress on airline safety and FAA matters; monitor appropriations, White House executive orders, and tariffs
Educating Congress on airline safety and FAA matters; monitor appropriations, White House executive orders, and tariffs
Educating Congress on airline safety and FAA matters; monitor appropriations, White House executive orders, and tariffs
Educating Congress on airline safety and FAA matters; monitor appropriations, White House executive orders, and tariffs
PL 119-21, An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H Con Res 14 HR 4552/S 2465, Transportation, Hou
Educating Congress on airline safety and FAA matters; monitor appropriations, White House executive orders, and tariffs
PL 119-21, An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H Con Res 14 HR 4552/S 2465, Transportation, Hou
Educating Congress on airline safety and FAA matters; monitor appropriations, White House executive orders, and tariffs
PL 119-21, An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H Con Res 14 PL 119-75, Consolidated Appropriati
Corporate and aviation industry tax issues. Research & development audit procedures, enhancements, and experimentation e
Corporate and aviation industry tax issues. Research & development audit procedures, enhancements, and experimentation e
H.R. 9026 & S.4795 - Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025. H.R.9028 & S.4796 - Trans
H.R.7024 - Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024. Corporate and aviation industry tax issues. Researc
H.R.1968 - Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extension Act, 2025. H.Con.Res.14 & S.Con.Res.7 - Concurrent Resoluti
H.R.1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act. H.Con.Res.14 & S.Con.Res.7 - Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 202
H.R.1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act and implementation (P.L.119-21). H.R.1062 - Growing and Preserving Innovation in Amer
H.R.3838 - Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fisc