Directed Energy Technology

Mission — Directed Energy Technology source

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is focused on high-impact, multi-domain science & technology (S&T) solutions that drive innovation now while laying the groundwork for the Air and Space Force to win the future fight. AFRL effectively synchronizes the Department of the Air Force (DAF) S&T enterprise and workforce to align towards the most consequential DAF priorities and accelerate the delivery of game-changing S&T. This program conducts research, development, test and evaluation in advanced high energy laser (HEL) and high power electromagnetic (HPEM) technologies to satisfy Department of the Air Force requirements in areas including counter-adversary unmanned aerial systems (c-UAS), counter-adversary intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance (c-ISR), counter-adversary missiles (c-Missile), and counter-adversary electronics (c-Electronic). This program also conducts research and development in directed energy for lethal and non-lethal applications by assessing the vulnerability and lethality of high energy lasers and high power microwave systems to meet Air Force needs. Technologies developed under this PE 0602605 (Directed Energy Technology) feed directly into directed energy technology demonstrations to graduate the technology to a higher technology readiness level (TRL) under program 0603605F (Advanced Weapons Technology), project 633151 (High Power Solid State Laser Technology) and project 633152 (High Power Microwave Development and Integration). This program includes funding for the requisite DAF Science & Engineering (S&E) and mission enabling civilian workforce with the necessary technical competencies to develop, manage, and deliver science & technology capabilities. The use of program funds in this program element is in conjunction with the civilian pay expenses budgeted in the following program elements: 0601102F, 0602020F, 0602102F, 0602202F, 0602203F, 0602204F, 0602298F, 0602336F, 0602602F, 0602788F, and 0603680F. In FY 2026, 54.717 million is budgeted in this program for 291 direct Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) civilians. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) utilizes 10 USC 4091, "Authorities for certain positions at science and technology reinvention laboratories” to manage the workforce strength, structure, positions, and compensation without regard to any limitation on appointments, positions, or funding in a manner consistent with the budget. This program element does include necessary expenses to support the operation and maintenance of facilities to manage, execute, and deliver science and technology capabilities. Funds in this PE may be used to investigate specified technology advancements in air, space and/or cyber domains. This program is in Budget Activity 2, Applied Research because this budget activity includes studies, investigations, and non-system specific technology efforts directed toward general military needs with a view toward developing and evaluating the feasibility and practicality of proposed solutions and determining their parameters.

Mission — Lasers & Imaging Technology source

This project explores the technical feasibility of high power lasers, including beam control, for applications such as aircraft protection, force protection, and precision engagement from the Department of the Air Force platforms. This project investigates the effects of laser weapons on a wide range of systems and components as well as producing, modifying, validating and applying Directed Energy and non-Directed Energy concept development and assessment tools to determine which technology solutions to pursue.

Mission — Advanced Weapons & Survivability Technology source

This project conducts research in high power electromagnetics (HPEM), which can include high power microwaves (HPM), plasmas, particle beams, and millimeter waves and other unconventional, innovative weapon technologies, to satisfy Department of the Air Force requirements in the following areas: counter-adversary unmanned aerial systems (c-UAS), counter-adversary intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance (c-ISR), counter-adversary missiles (c-Missile) and counter-adversary electronics (c-Electronic) for high-value airborne asset (HVAA) protection, and point defense. This project conducts research to advance the state-of-the-art of HPM sources, antennas, and novel directed energy applications by investigating the effects of HPM weapons on a wide range of systems and components. This project conducts physics-level numerical simulations, modeling, and analysis to inform science and technology investments and for assessing the military utility of HPM systems. This project includes but is not limited to high power microwaves, plasmas, particle beams, and millimeter waves. Technologies developed under this project feed directly into HPM technology demonstrations to graduate the technology to higher technology readiness level (TRL) under PE 0603605F (Advanced Weapons Technology), project 633152 (High Power Microwave Development and Integration).

Mission — Laser Technology source

This project conducts research to advance the state-of-the-art in continuous wave (CW) and pulsed laser sources, optical beam combination techniques, optical beam control technologies, optical beam propagation methodologies, lethality enhancement techniques via laser effect testing, and the integration of these technologies into laboratory-level system demonstration packages for Air Force applications such as counter-adversary unmanned aerial systems (c-UAS), counter-adversary intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance (c-ISR), and counter-adversary missiles (c-Missile) for high value airborne asset (HVAA) protection, and point defense. This project conducts modeling, simulation, and analysis to guide science and technology investments and for assessing the military utility of the technologies being developed. Technologies developed under this project feed directly into laser system technology demonstrations to graduate the technology to a higher technology readiness level (TRL) under PE 0603605F (Advanced Weapons Technology), 633151 (High Power Solid State Laser Technology).

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (4)