Market Trends of Directed Energy Weapons Industry
Sea Segment Expected to WItness Rapid Growth
The sea segment is expected to grow with the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to the robust defense expenditures and investments to integrate the directed energy weapon (DEW) technology into the naval vessels. Various governments decided to introduce directed energy weapons onboard combat ships like destroyers and frigates to neutralize enemy ships, UAVs, and missiles. The US Navy is investing in the induction of directed energy weapons onboard the fleet of naval vessels for more than five years. The High Energy Laser Counter-ASCM Program (HELCAP), the Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy (ODIN), Solid-State Laser Technology Maturation (SSL-TM), and the Surface Navy Laser Weapon System (SNLWS) (also known as the high-energy laser with integrated optical dazzler and surveillance (HELIOS)) are some of the major laser weapon programs of the US Navy. In August 2022, the US Navy installed Lockheed Martin's HELIOS laser system on the USS Preble. Similarly, the European Defense Agency (EDA) began a study for the installation of directed energy weapons onboard naval ships against unmanned vehicles. The deployment of DEWs onboard naval vessels is expected to drive the growth of the market during the forecast period.
North America Region To Hold the Highest Market Share
The North American region is currently dominating the market due to the robust investment of the US Department of Defense (DoD) to integrate directed energy weapon technology into the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Over the past few years, the government signed contracts with various directed energy manufacturers like RTX Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and Boeing Company to develop and deploy directed energy weapons. For instance, under the Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) Advanced Technology Demonstration Program, the Air Force Research Laboratory planned to develop new laser systems. The systems can be mounted onboard fighter jets to mitigate the threat of incoming missiles. Under the program, Lockheed Martin was selected by the US Air Force with a contract of USD 26.3 million to design and develop a fiber laser. The Air Force Research Laboratory plans to test the fully developed system by 2024. In December 2022, Lockheed Martin and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Ltd. signed a teaming agreement that includes jointly developing, testing, and manufacturing High Energy Laser Weapon Systems (HELWS) in the US and Israel. The US DoD spends around USD 1 billion annually on developing directed energy weapons and developed high-energy lasers, successfully shooting down drones in demonstrations. However, the DoD is constantly facing the need to get these technologies into the field to use them in missions.
