GoKawiilNavy Chief Caudle Outlines Plan to Field Laser Weapons Fleetwide
Admiral Daryl Caudle, the U.S. Navy's top officer, described a vision for equipping ships across the fleet with directed-energy weapons. He said the lasers could supplement missile defenses, reduce the cost of shooting down incoming threats, and eventually scale up to megawatt-class power levels.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Ship-based missile interceptors are expensive and magazines are finite, so lasers could let ships defend themselves far more cheaply and for longer during sustained attacks, according to Caudle's remarks. Reaching megawatt-class power would mark a significant leap from currently deployed laser systems, suggesting the Navy sees directed energy as a long-term shift in naval defense rather than a niche add-on.
- Navy's top officer publicly detailed a fleetwide laser weapons vision
- Lasers are framed as a way to extend missile magazines and cut costs
- Goal includes scaling laser power up to the megawatt class over time
Source: fastcompany.com, 2026-09-23
Published there as: “The Navy’s top officer lays out his vision for laser weapons on every ship”
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