In a major leap forward for maritime defense, the U.S. Navy has initiated a $29.9 million project known as SONGBOW, focused on creating a cutting-edge laser weapon system capable of countering advanced aerial threats.
The weapon will feature a 400-kilowatt laser built by combining several 50-kilowatt sources into one precision-guided beam. This next-generation system is being developed to tackle high-speed, high-volume threats like drone swarms, cruise missiles, and hypersonic vehicles—delivering defense at the speed of light.
