nLIGHT announced it has been selected for a Joint Laser Weapon System (JLWS) Other Transaction Authority agreement supporting the U.S. Department of War’s next-generation cruise missile defense architecture. The contract includes an initial award of $44 million, with a total program ceiling of up to $627 million, including follow-on development, integration, and potential production.
The JLWS program is led by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering and is designed to transition directed energy systems from prototype demonstrations into deployable, production-ready platforms. The initiative focuses on developing containerized high-energy laser weapons that can provide scalable and cost-effective defense against threats such as unmanned aerial systems and advanced cruise missiles.
Compared to traditional kinetic defense systems, laser-based solutions offer several operational advantages, including near-instant engagement at the speed of light, deep magazines, and lower cost per intercept. Initial JLWS prototypes are expected to deliver approximately 150 kW of power, with future systems scaling to between 300 kW and 500 kW to support more advanced missile defense scenarios.
Under the agreement, nLIGHT will develop, integrate, and deliver multiple high-energy laser weapon systems. The company will build on prior work, including its 300 kW laser developed through the High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative and its 50 kW system deployed under the Army’s Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense program. Its approach combines proprietary beam-combining technology, atmospheric correction capabilities, and vertically integrated manufacturing to produce modular systems that can be deployed across a range of operational environments.
The contract structure allows for rapid prototyping and iterative development, enabling faster transition from testing to production compared to traditional defense acquisition models. This flexibility is expected to accelerate the deployment of directed energy systems as the U.S. defense strategy increasingly prioritizes scalable, high-efficiency countermeasure technologies.
nLIGHT’s broader directed energy portfolio includes its HADES family of high-energy laser systems, which are designed for applications such as counter-drone operations, rocket and artillery defense, and missile interception. With operational demonstrations anticipated as early as 2028, the JLWS program represents a significant step toward large-scale deployment of laser-based defense systems.
KEY QUOTE:
“This award reflects the Department of War’s increasing focus on transitioning directed energy from prototype to deployed capability at scale and aligns directly with our strategy to move beyond demonstration programs and into production-oriented platforms that can be fielded across land and maritime environments. nLIGHT’s vertically integrated laser architecture, state-of-the-art beam combination, precision tracking expertise, and production-ready high-energy laser solutions position us to deliver reliable, scalable performance in support of next-generation air and missile defense missions.”
Scott Keeney, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of nLIGHT
