Directed Energy Weapons

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Research

Dec 8, 2025

Invisible defender? Opportunities and challenges for integrating DEWs into Ukraine's C-UAS framework

DEWs offer low-cost, precise counters to UAVs via HELs (light beams) and HPMs (microwave bursts). Despite global R&D, TRLs vary widely, costs and constraints remain high. Ukraine should avoid near-term DEW investment; systems aren't scalable yet.
Research

Mar 7, 2025

A Missile Jamming and Engagement Model

This report describes a missile jamming engagement model that was developed to help assess the dependence of an air-launched missile on signals from airborne or space-based assets for success in an engagement under a plausible set of conditions.
Research

Jul 31, 2024

How, When, and Whether to Employ Non-Lethal Weapons in Diverse Contexts

This report describes how non-lethal weapons can be used in diverse strategic and operational contexts by drawing on insights from psychology and group dynamics and providing vignettes of gray-zone situations, civilian encounters, and combat.
Data Viz

May 3, 2024

A Logic Model for Intermediate Force Capabilities

Intermediate force capabilities (IFCs) include non-lethal weapons, information operations, electromagnetic warfare, and cyber capabilities. A RAND-developed logic model examines IFCs, how they relate to one another, and how they contribute to strategic goals.
Research Summary

Mar 6, 2024

Integrating Intermediate Force Capabilities into Wargames

There are challenges, but also significant potential benefits, in integrating intermediate force capabilities—a suite of systems that includes non-lethal weapons, electromagnetic warfare, cyber, and information operations—into wargames.
Research Summary

Mar 6, 2024

Intermediate Force Capabilities: High-Value Options for the U.S. Military

RAND researchers used metrics and vignettes to assess and illustrate the value and complementarity of intermediate force capabilities, including non-lethal weapons, information operations, electromagnetic warfare, and cyber capabilities.
Commentary

Jan 25, 2024

Directed Energy: The Focus on Laser Weapons Intensifies

Directed energy weapons offer a more cost-efficient means of dealing with fast-proliferating threats. If the technology can be matured, such systems could tip both the military and economic calculus of modern warfare in their users' favor.
Commentary

Aug 8, 2023

Why DoD Needs Greater Focus on Nonlethal Weapons, Intermediate Force Capabilities

Nonlethal weapons do not entail the firing of projectiles, the detonation of explosives, or even the use of edged weapons with blades. Their effects are more subtle, though no less powerful for that. But the effects of these systems, and their impact on overall military capabilities, are often underestimated or misunderstood.
Research

Jun 27, 2023

Assessing the Impact of Diverse Intermediate Force Capabilities and Integrating Them into Wargames for the U.S. Department of Defense and NATO

The authors of this report describe how to measure the impact of intermediate force capabilities (IFCs), which cause less-than-lethal effects, and how to better integrate them into wargaming, modeling, and simulation for U.S. and NATO-wide forces.
Commentary

Apr 22, 2022

Effective Use of Nonlethal Weapons Could Require Combating Disinformation

The temporary and reversible effects of nonlethal weapons reduce the potential for collateral damage while mitigating the risk of inadvertent escalation in peacetime and gray-zone situations. But public perceptions can have powerful effects on how these systems are employed and the impact of their use.
Research

Jan 1, 2002

Space Weapons Earth Wars

This overview aims to inform the public discussion of space-based weapons by examining their characteristics, potential attributes, limitations, legality, and utility.
Expert Insights

Jan 1, 1991

Military laser systems

Military laser systems are significantly different from commercial ones. The Department of Defense (DoD) has supported a large laser research-and-development budget, which has resulted in a rich diversity of military laser systems, ranging from the l...

Directed Energy Weapons

Directed Energy Weapons

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Explore RAND’s Work on this Topic

Error

Invisible defender? Opportunities and challenges for integrating DEWs into Ukraine's C-UAS framework

A Missile Jamming and Engagement Model

How, When, and Whether to Employ Non-Lethal Weapons in Diverse Contexts

A Logic Model for Intermediate Force Capabilities

Integrating Intermediate Force Capabilities into Wargames

Intermediate Force Capabilities: High-Value Options for the U.S. Military

Directed Energy: The Focus on Laser Weapons Intensifies

Why DoD Needs Greater Focus on Nonlethal Weapons, Intermediate Force Capabilities

Assessing the Impact of Diverse Intermediate Force Capabilities and Integrating Them into Wargames for the U.S. Department of Defense and NATO

Effective Use of Nonlethal Weapons Could Require Combating Disinformation

Space Weapons Earth Wars

Military laser systems

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Directed Energy Weapons

Directed Energy Weapons

Related Topics

Explore RAND’s Work on this Topic

Error

Invisible defender? Opportunities and challenges for integrating DEWs into Ukraine's C-UAS framework

A Missile Jamming and Engagement Model

How, When, and Whether to Employ Non-Lethal Weapons in Diverse Contexts

A Logic Model for Intermediate Force Capabilities

Integrating Intermediate Force Capabilities into Wargames

Intermediate Force Capabilities: High-Value Options for the U.S. Military

Directed Energy: The Focus on Laser Weapons Intensifies

Why DoD Needs Greater Focus on Nonlethal Weapons, Intermediate Force Capabilities

Assessing the Impact of Diverse Intermediate Force Capabilities and Integrating Them into Wargames for the U.S. Department of Defense and NATO

Effective Use of Nonlethal Weapons Could Require Combating Disinformation

Space Weapons Earth Wars

Military laser systems

Oops! An unexpected error has occurred.