The US Navy has made a major advancement in laser weapon technology by launching its highly classified SONGBOW program. The Department of Defense confirmed this week that it awarded a $29.9 million contract to Coherent Aerospace & Defense to develop advanced directed-energy systems, including a powerful 400-kilowatt laser capable of neutralizing drones, missiles, and other aerial threats.
400kW Laser Breakthrough
The contract, issued through the US Office of Naval Research (ONR), focuses on creating advanced pulsed fiber lasers and related subsystems under the SONGBOW project—a program that has remained largely confidential until now.
The primary goal is to design, integrate, and test a high-powered directed-energy subsystem for deployment aboard naval vessels and potentially land-based platforms. The centerpiece of this effort is a 400-kilowatt-class laser weapon, achieved by combining multiple 50-kilowatt laser modules into a single, coherent beam controlled by a precision beam-control assembly.
This modular design is crucial for scaling laser power without losing beam quality or targeting accuracy.
Strategic Defense Applications
The technology will primarily be used for defensive measures such as intercepting drones, missiles, and possibly hypersonic weapons. It could also support other military operations like remote sensing and battlefield illumination.
Experts say this 400kW output marks a significant leap from current operational Navy lasers, such as the Laser Weapon System (LaWS), which operate at around 30 to 100 kilowatts. The higher power enables US forces to engage faster, more resilient targets at longer ranges, destroying drone bodies or missile casings within seconds.
Integrated Layered Defense
Coherent Aerospace & Defense, the prime contractor, is experienced in fiber laser systems for both commercial and defense markets, making it well-positioned to lead this ambitious initiative.
The contract is a cost-plus-fixed-fee agreement with a development schedule starting with a 20-month base period, followed by optional 11-month and 18-month extensions. If all options are exercised, the project will conclude by January 2027.
Initial funding includes $12.88 million allocated for Fiscal Year 2024 research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E), which must be used by the fiscal year’s end—putting pressure on rapid progress.
Future Naval Defense Strategy
The Navy plans to integrate SONGBOW into its layered defense approach alongside missile systems like the Aegis Combat System and SM-6 interceptors. With the growing threat of drone swarms and hypersonic missiles, high-energy lasers offer a cost-effective, rapid-response solution to saturation attacks that could overwhelm traditional defenses.
While specific deployment platforms have not been disclosed, SONGBOW marks a critical investment to ensure America’s naval superiority against evolving threats.
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