USAF boosts directed-energy experiment funds, prepares for first tests

By Rachel Cohen / March 22, 2018 at 6:19 PM
The Air Force is shifting research and development money in its fiscal year 2019 budget request to support "game-changing" directed-energy efforts, newly prioritizing an experimentation campaign set to begin this fall. Directed-energy funding totals about $285 million in the FY-19 request and nearly $1.3 billion across the next five years, including applied research, advanced technology development and advanced component development and prototyping for high-energy laser and high-power microwave weapons. "The Air Force reallocated funds in FY-19 to increase funding for...

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