{"id":18499,"date":"2026-03-26T12:19:37","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T15:19:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/?p=18499"},"modified":"2026-03-26T12:19:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T15:19:37","slug":"el-us-army-avanza-en-programas-de-armas-de-energia-dirigida-laser-de-mas-potencia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/?p=18499","title":{"rendered":"El US Army avanza en programas de armas de energ\u00eda dirigida (l\u00e1ser) de m\u00e1s potencia"},"content":{"rendered":"

El US Army ha resuelto suspender el programa de Arma de Energ\u00eda Dirigida (DEW- L\u00e1ser) m\u00e1s poderosa hasta hoy, el IFPC-HEL de 300 kW. Conocido como “Valkyrie” y desarrollado por Lockheed Martin, este sistema ten\u00eda por objetivo proveer a las unidades de sistemas DEW- L\u00e1ser aptos para la defensa contra misiles y drones. A\u00f1os de investigaci\u00f3n y ensayos, demostraron que el rendimiento de estas armas variaba sensiblemente entre los resultados del laboratorio y cuando se empleaban en condiciones de combate reales. Por esa raz\u00f3n, esta fuerza planea avanzar con el “Joint Laser Weapon System”,\u00a0un programa conjunto con la US Navy. Asimismo y sobre la base del conocimiento y experiencia adquiridos, se siguen explorando tecnolog\u00edas que permitan disponer de armas DEW – L\u00e1ser m\u00e1s poderosas, capaces de entregar potencias del orden de los MW en lugar de los kW actuales.<\/p>\n

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IFPC-HEL wasn\u2019t the US military\u2019s only counter-cruise missile efforts in the works. The Navy is still pursuing its 300 kw\u00a0High Energy Laser Counter-ASCM Program<\/a>\u00a0(HELCAP), while the Office of Naval Research is exploring an even more powerful 400 kw system through its\u00a0SONBGOW<\/a>\u00a0project. Meanwhile, the Pentagon\u2019s HELSI initiative is targeting megawatt-class lasers capable of engaging not just cruise missiles, but ballistic and hypersonic threats, with the department\u00a0awarding<\/a>\u00a0nLight a contract in 2023 to develop a suitable system\u00a0over three years<\/a>.\u00a0According<\/a>\u00a0to a recent report in Aviation Week, nLight is \u201con track\u201d to demonstrate that system for defense officials this year, with a successful outcome likely solidifying potential plans to incorporate laser weapons into the Golden Dome\u2019s\u00a0layered defense architecture<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear from the CRS report why the Army chose to abandon IFPC-HEL. But the decision mirrors its earlier move to drop the Stryker-mounted 50 kw\u00a0Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD)<\/a>\u00a0laser weapon in favor of the upcoming\u00a0Enduring High Energy Laser<\/a>\u00a0system, which may become the service\u2019s first official directed energy program of record. In that case, hands-on soldier assessments conducted in the Middle East in 2024 revealed that \u201cresults from the lab environment and test ranges were very different from the tactical environment,\u201d\u00a0according<\/a>\u00a0to a separate CRS update published March 10. If a 50 kw system designed for drones like DE M-SHOARD struggles to perform outside of controlled conditions, scaling that technology up to 300 kw cruise missile defense may prove even more challenging.<\/p>\n

The need for laser weapons capable of countering cruise missiles is clear, and the political and institutional will to develop them appears strong. But if the Army\u2019s decision to move on from IFPC-HEL is any indication, the technology may not yet be ready for one of the most demanding missions in modern air defense.<\/p>\n

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