Pentagon budget reveals 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’s FY2027 budget backs a containerized 300+ kW Joint Laser Weapon System for cruise-missile defense.

The prototype is meant to test whether high-energy lasers can intercept cruise missiles and work in integrated air defense.

The program is part of the broader $17.9 billion Golden Dome missile-defense initiative.

It marks a major step toward moving directed-energy weapons from experimentation to homeland defense use.