Inside America's laser revolution as the military nears big battlefield breakthrough

The Army is nearing a contract award for the Enduring High Energy Laser (E-HEL), which represents the service's first laser weapon system to transition into permanent operational capability. This development comes as the Pentagon races to adapt to modern warfare threats, particularly inexpensive drones that challenge traditional air defenses. Alongside these efforts, the Air Force and Navy are also integrating directed-energy weapons, while countries like Israel and China are independently deploying advanced laser systems.