Awarded $171 Million Contract! Ennai To Develop Megawatt-class Directed Energy Lasers

On November 2, nLIGHT, a leading supplier of high-power semiconductor and fiber lasers, announced that, as part of Phase II of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Research and Engineering OUSD (R&E) High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative (HELSI), nLIGHT has been awarded more than double the value of a previously announced contract to produce prototype high-energy lasers (HELs). The Order.
Originally announced in May 2023, nLIGHT's Phase II contract was originally valued at $86 million, and the newly announced exercise of additional options brings the total value of nLIGHT's contract to $171 million.
Moving forward in phases: transitioning high-energy lasers to battlefield applications
In the first phase of the High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative (HELSI) project, Ennai demonstrated a 300kW-class high-energy laser using its Coherent Beam Combining (CBC) architecture, which exceeded the project goals for power and brightness. By 2022, nLIGHT has demonstrated capabilities beyond the HELSI program goals and the scalability of its CBC architecture.
The second phase of the HELSI program is expected to be executed over the next three years. Building on its proven modular Coherent Beam Combining (CBC) architecture, nLIGHT will scale the laser source power to megawatt levels and improve beam quality, size and weight. The laser will feature a rugged, convex-compatible form factor with optional space allocation for upgraded precision remote tracking and adaptive optics.
Scott Keeney, President and CEO of Ennai, commented, "Ennai has been developing high-power, high-brightness lasers for military applications since the company's inception more than two decades ago. As a dual-use technology company, we are pleased to be part of the Department of Defense's strategic initiative to utilize innovative technologies to defend against a variety of threats."
Jeff Barchers, President of Ennai Defense Systems, noted, "Our technology's ability to scale power and correct for atmospheric turbulence allows Ennai to deliver high-intensity beams precisely directed to remote targets, maximizing the laser's effectiveness. Our work in Phase II of the HELSI program will further support the broader transition of high-energy lasers to the warfighter."
Over the past year, nLIGHT has repeatedly emphasized the company's tremendous progress in directed energy in its earnings reports, positioning it as a key growth market. And a growing number of analyses point to the potential of this market as one that indeed deserves to be tapped further and deeper by high-power laser manufacturers.
Global Directed Energy Weapons Market to Reach $22.2 Billion by 2032
According to United Technology Corporation (UTC)'s "Directed Energy Weapons Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032" research report, the global directed energy weapons market size of $4.9 billion in 2022 is expected to reach $22.2 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 16.4%. CAGR of 16.4%. In recent years, the U.S. government has signed contracts with a number of directed energy manufacturers, including Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing, to develop and deploy high-powered directed energy weapons.
In addition to Lockheed Martin, Thales Group (Thales Group), the major players in this market include Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Boeing, BAE Systems (BAE Systems), Textron (Textron), Rheinmetall (Rheinmetall), the United States L3Harris Technologies, Moog Inc. (USA), QinetiQ (UK), Leonardo Electronics US, General Atomics (USA), Dynetics (USA) and Kord Technologies (USA). Kord Technologies (USA).