{"id":86055,"date":"2024-03-08T16:55:27","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T16:55:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/03\/08\/central-commands-kurilla-eyes-drone-countering-lasers-for-middle-east\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:45:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:45:30","slug":"central-commands-kurilla-eyes-drone-countering-lasers-for-middle-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2024\/03\/08\/central-commands-kurilla-eyes-drone-countering-lasers-for-middle-east\/","title":{"rendered":"Central Command\u2019s Kurilla eyes drone-countering lasers for Middle East"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Development and deployment of directed-energy weapons would enhance defense across the Greater Middle East, where Iran-backed militants are targeting U.S. troops with missiles and explosive drones, according to the leader of U.S. Central Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Army Gen. Michael Kurilla told lawmakers on March 7 that he would \u201clove\u201d to have the Navy deploy more directed-energy arms capable of downing drones. Having supplemental directed energy on hand, he added, would also mean expending fewer U.S. missiles, which can cost millions of dollars a pop. Iranian drones being funneled to extremist groups can cost thousands of dollars each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe bigger concern is if you start talking about swarms. We need to continue to invest in things like high-power microwave to be able to counter a drone swarm that is coming at you,\u201d Kurilla said during the Senate Armed Services Committee<\/a> hearing in Washington. \u201cNothing is 100%. At some point the law of statistics will come up. You have to have a layered defense.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High-energy lasers and microwave weapons are capable of zapping overhead threats in ways dissimilar to traditional munitions and at a fraction of the cost. Lasers can fire at the speed of light<\/a> and punch holes through material, while microwaves can fry electronics at a distance, rendering tech obsolete. Both are considered a critical element of layered defense, or having multiple countermeasures ready to thwart different threats in different situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Defense Department has for decades pitched money into directed-energy weapons, an average $1 billion annually in the past three years, according to the Government Accountability Office, a federal watchdog.<\/p>\n\n\n\t