CaliToday (11/12/2025): The United States Army is standing on the precipice of a radical shift in aerial warfare strategy. Moving beyond the era of the Hellfire-armed MQ-1C Gray Eagle, the Pentagon is preparing to deploy a new class of heavy-lift unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) equipped with high-energy lasers.
This initiative marks one of the most consequential evolutions in military drone design in decades, signaling a move toward directed-energy weapons capable of blinding sensors, disabling electronics, and incinerating hostile drones mid-flight.
The "Golden Dome" Strategy
According to reports from Breaking Defense, this technological leap is not an isolated experiment but a core component of the Trump administration’s envisioned "Golden Dome" a layered air-defense shield designed to protect US forces and territory from drones, missiles, and artillery.
With the Pentagon listing high-energy lasers among its top six technology priorities, the Army is seeking a next-generation platform that prioritizes modularity. An Army official confirmed that while the laser weapon will “absolutely” be part of the capability set, it will likely be deployed as a "theater-specific add-on" rather than a permanent fixture on every aircraft.
The target for this upgrade is substantial: Group 4 and 5 UAS platforms, behemoths weighing more than 1,320 lbs, capable of long-endurance missions.
The Strategic Advantage: Disruption Over Destruction
The primary allure of laser weaponry is the concept of the "unlimited magazine." Unlike conventional interceptors (missiles), which are heavy, finite, and cost tens of thousands of dollars per shot, a laser weapon can fire as long as it has power.
General Atomics, the aerospace giant behind the Predator and Gray Eagle, is emerging as a frontrunner for the contract. Company spokesperson C. Mark Brinkley clarified the tactical intent: this isn't about building a "superweapon" to blow aircraft out of the sky, but rather a precision tool to surgically degrade the enemy.
"The intent is to disrupt and degrade targets blinding optics, igniting components, melting plastics, and overheating electronics to defeat systems." C. Mark Brinkley, General Atomics
Brinkley noted that by the time the Army issues a formal solicitation, General Atomics’ solution likely based on their STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) Mojave airframe will have been "tested, tweaked, and tested again," avoiding unproven promises.
The Contenders: Giants and Startups
While General Atomics leverages its legacy with the Gray Eagle, the Army’s open architecture approach has opened the door for agile startups.
Aurelius Systems, a newer player in the defense sector, is making waves with its Archimedes laser.
The Tech: A sub-10-kilowatt laser system.
The Fit: Technically validated to fit on a standard Gray Eagle pylon.
Validation: In October, the Army granted Aurelius $62,000 through its FUZE venture-funding program. The company has already demonstrated ground-based shoot-downs of several small drones.
Dustin Hicks, head of growth at Aurelius, emphasized that their unit is compact and light enough to turn existing hardpoints into directed-energy stations, offering a rapid upgrade path for the fleet.
What’s Next?
The industry is now bracing for a rapid acquisition cycle. A formal Request for Information (RFI) is expected imminently, giving defense contractors a brief window to refine their proposals ahead of an upcoming Army Industry Day.
As the threat of cheap, swarm-based drone warfare grows globally, the US Army’s move to field lasers in the sky represents a critical pivot: trading expensive missiles for the speed-of-light precision of directed energy.