---
title: "The U.S. Military Is Buying a $130 Million Laser Weapon"
description: "Lockheed Martin and a contractor just won a $130 million contract to come up with a 100-kilowatt laser weapon for the U.S. Army."
date: "2019-05-16"
modified: "2019-05-16"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/us-military-laser-weapon-100-kilowatt"
categories:
  - "Military"
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "laser"
  - "laser weapon"
  - "lockheed martin"
  - "Rolls-Royce"
  - "the digest"
---

# The U.S. Military Is Buying a $130 Million Laser Weapon

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/the-u-s-military-is-buying-a-130-million-laser-weapon.png>)
*\<em\>Image: Dynetics\</em\>*

## Truck Laser

A team of Lockheed Martin and Dynetics engineers just won a $130 million contract to provide a 100-kilowatt laser weapon for the U.S. Army.

The High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstrator — evocatively abbreviated HEL TVD — laser system is slated to be tested at a missile range in New Mexico in 2022, [*Defense News* reports](<https://www.defensenews.com/land/2019/05/16/dynetics-lockheed-team-beats-out-raytheon-to-build-100-kilowatt-laser-weapon/>).

"High energy laser weapons have been a system that the United States has wanted to add into their defense portfolio since the invention of the laser," said senior VP of contracts at Dynetics Ronnie Chronister in a [press release](<https://www.govconwire.com/2019/05/dynetics-led-team-to-build-army-laser-weapon-demonstrator-under-130m-contract/>).

## Pew Pew

The system was designed to defend against missiles, rockets and artillery, according to *Defense News*. It could also prove useful against military drones and other unmanned aircraft.

The news comes after luxury automaker Rolls-Royce [unveiled](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/rolls-royce-laser-weapons>) a new hybrid power source intended to continuously power 100-kilowatt laser weapons earlier this week. According to [today's statement](<https://www.govconwire.com/2019/05/dynetics-led-team-to-build-army-laser-weapon-demonstrator-under-130m-contract/>), Rolls-Royce will provide the power source and thermal management system for the HEL TVD.

## Vehicle Platform

The plan is to mount the laser system onto "medium-sized tactical vehicle platform" — a mid-sized military truck. The team is finalizing designs before building the first test vehicle.

The U.S. Army is developing laser systems in a number of different areas. Last month, for instance, [Futurism reported](<https://futurism.com/military-mounting-laser-weapons-tanks>) on plans to equip tanks and drones with laser weapons meant to disable targets.

**READ MORE:** [Dynetics-Lockheed team beats out Raytheon to build 100-kilowatt laser weapon](<https://www.defensenews.com/land/2019/05/16/dynetics-lockheed-team-beats-out-raytheon-to-build-100-kilowatt-laser-weapon/>) \[*Defense News*\]

**More on lasers:** *[European Military Contractor Tests New Laser Weapon](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/european-military-contractor-tests-laser-weapon>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)