GAO: Navy, Air Force need more 'transition planning' for directed-energy weapon development

By Linda Hersey / April 17, 2023 at 4:50 PM
The Navy and Air Force risk deploying directed-energy weapons that do not meet operational needs without better processes for transitioning prototypes to fielded products, a new GAO report warns . The report on directed-energy weapons issued Monday found that the Navy and Air Force -- unlike the Army -- do not consistently identify transition partners early in the process, draft transition agreements, or document user feedback. As the Defense Department prioritizes the buildup of directed-energy weapons to defend against drones,...

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