The United States government awarded a contract to build a laser weapon to a team, including Boeing on board, which would later be used by the US Army.
The weapon being developed uses a laser with a power of 300 kilowatts, and its design and capabilities will be on display in 2022.
The contract's official name is the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO). The main purpose of this contract is to make a demonstration of the design.
The prototype of the weapon is claimed to be very lethal, far more deadly than any weapon currently available. At least that's what General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS), one of the companies involved in the project, claims.
"This technology represents a much higher capability for both air and missile defense, which is needed to support the modernization efforts of the US Army," the spokesman said.
Although it will only be demonstrated in 2022, this weapon system will be a major upgrade from the laser system previously used by the US military.
In 2014, the US Navy used an experimental system called the Laser Weapon System (LaWS) installed on the USS Ponce. The laser weapon system can fire a laser with a power of only 30 kilowatts.
The laser is said to be not powerful enough, maybe it can only be used to shoot down drones or other small aircraft. While the new 300-kilowatt laser system is said to be able to shoot missiles, drones, or even helicopters and other aircraft.
The US government announced this weapon after global competition for weapons development increased, namely after China claimed to have successfully tested hypersonic missiles.