Pentagon budget documents reveal it's pursuing containerized 300kW+ laser weapons, ambitious Joint Laser Weapon System designed to shoot down cruise missiles — system part of $17.9 billion Golden Dome missile-defense initiative

The Pentagon is accelerating the development of a Joint Laser Weapon System (JLWS) to shoot down cruise missiles, part of the $17.9 billion Golden Dome missile-defense initiative. The system aims to integrate high-energy laser subsystems for testing in naval environments, with a focus on cruise missile defense. The Pentagon is pursuing a containerized laser architecture capable of scaling beyond 300 kilowatts, a significant escalation in power. The JLWS initiative reflects the military's growing emphasis on directed-energy systems and could lead to a fully functional weapon system in the near future.