Senators push rapid acquisition bill for directed-energy programs

A proposed Senate bill is pushing for faster fielding of directed-energy weapons using authority from the Fiscal Year 2003 National Defense Authorization Act.

Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and James Inhofe (R-OK) introduced the bill Tuesday, titled the Directed Energy Weapon Systems Acquisition Act of 2016, that would accelerate the time to develop and field directed-energy weapons. The bill would amend the Fiscal Year 2003 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes the rapid acquisition authority program, to include directed-energy programs. If supplies are urgently needed to fill a capability gap, the defense secretary may use the authority from the 2003 NDAA to complete a rapid acquisition of directed-energy weapons, according to the bill.

In addition to the rapid acquisition authority, the secretary may also use other transactions authority, simplified acquisition of commercial items and a procurement authority for experimental purposes. The bill also directs the Joint Directed Energy Program Office to develop a strategic plan to field laser, microwave and millimeter-wave weapons.

The bill highlights Congress' growing frustration with the Defense Department, which has sketched out ambitious directed-energy programs over the last three decades but has failed to transition many of the weapons out of the research laboratory.

"Since 1960, the Defense Department has invested more than $6 billion in directed-energy science and technology initiatives," the bill states. "The committee is concerned that, despite this significant investment, the department's directed-energy initiatives are not resourced at levels necessary to transition them to full-scale acquisition programs."