Directed energy (DE) weapons use concentrated electromagnetic energy, rather than kinetic energy, to combat enemy forces. Although the United States has been researching directed energy since the 1960s, some experts have observed that the Department of Defense (DOD) has invested billions of dollars in DE programs that failed to reach maturity and were ultimately cancelled. In recent years, however, DOD has made progress on DE weapons development, deploying the first operational U.S. DE weapon in 2014 aboard the USS Ponce. Since then, DE weapons development has continued, with DOD issuing a Directed Energy Roadmap to coordinate the department’s efforts. DOD has also introduced a High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative, which seeks to strengthen the defense industrial base for DE weapons and improve laser beam quality and efficiency.

​This report provides background information and issues for Congress on DE weapons, including high-energy lasers (HELs) and high-powered microwave (HPM) weapons, and outlines selected unclassified DOD, Air Force, Army, and Navy DE programs. If successfully fielded, HELs could be used by ground forces in a range of missions, including short-range air defense (SHORAD); counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS); and counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) missions. HPM weapons could provide a non-kinetic means of disabling adversary electronics and communications systems. Compared with traditional munitions, DE weapons could offer lower logistical requirements, lower costs per shot, and—assuming access to a sufficient power supply—deeper magazines. These weapons could, however, face a number of limitations not faced by their kinetic counterparts. For example, atmospheric conditions (e.g., rain, fog, obscurants) could potentially limit the range and beam quality of DE weapons, in turn reducing their effectiveness. ​

Highlights in the document include:

• Federal research and development funding is expected to see a boost for FY22.  
• DOD reports FY2021 total obligational authority of $110.8 billion for RDT&E. 
• DOD is a substantial source of federal university R&D funding for various disciplines.

On Monday, September 13, the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing to discuss the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. The majority of members expressed concern over the future of Taliban control of the country. Members largely focused on pre-withdrawal planning and evacuation processes for relevant U.S. and Afghan personnel. Other topics included vetting evacuees, humanitarian aid, U.S. intelligence capabilities, and provisions for protecting at-risk groups in Afghanistan.

Witnesses

• Antony J. Blinken – Secretary of State

Members in Attendance
Chairman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ), Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA), Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA), Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX), Rep. Andy Levin (D-MI), Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ), Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Rep. Kathy Manning (D-NC), Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA), Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Ranking Member Michael McCaul (R-TX), Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO), Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL), Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA), Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI), Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), Rep. Young Kim (R-CA).