# DoD Awards JLWS Laser Weapon Contracts

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded multiple contracts totaling up to **$847 million** to Lockheed Martin Aculight and nLIGHT Defense under the Joint Laser Weapon System (JLWS) program. These contracts, including initial awards of approximately **$86 million** in July 2026, support the development, integration, and rapid fielding of high-energy laser weapons designed to counter drone swarms and advanced cruise missile threats. The JLWS program aims to deliver scalable, containerized laser systems starting at 150 kilowatts and scaling up to 300-500 kilowatts for deployment on land and naval platforms, with a major demonstration planned by summer 2028. This initiative reflects a strategic shift toward directed energy weapons as a key component of U.S. domestic missile defense capabilities.

- **Why this matters:** Procurement professionals should note the significant funding and multi-year scope of the JLWS program, signaling sustained investment in directed energy technologies.
- The contracts emphasize rapid prototyping and scalable production-ready systems, indicating opportunities for contractors with expertise in high-energy lasers and defense integration.
- The involvement of prime contractors Lockheed Martin and nLIGHT highlights key industry players shaping the emerging laser weapons market.
- Organizations supporting defense modernization should evaluate how JLWS requirements align with evolving missile defense priorities and platform integration needs.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Contracting Vehicles, Artificial Intelligence
**Published:** July 14, 2026

### Government Entities
- Department of Defense (DoD)
- U.S. Department of War
- U.S. Navy
- U.S. Army

### Vendors
- Lockheed Martin (prime contractor)
- nLIGHT (prime contractor)
- Lockheed Martin Aculight (awardee)

### Key Quotes
> We must actively defend the homeland against emerging threats. We are partnering with industry to rapidly deliver deep magazine directed energy capabilities to the Joint Force that can be seamlessly deployed across multiple domains.
> — Emil Michael, Pentagon Chief Technology Officer

> This award reflects the Department of War’s increasing focus on transitioning directed energy from prototype to deployed capability at scale.
> — Scott Keeney, CEO of nLIGHT

### Sources
- [$LASR Contract award 

EXCLUSIVE: US Military Awards  nLight to build cruise missile-killing high-energy laser weapons for the “Golden Dome for America” domestic missile defense shield.

Laser Wars

https://t.co/7DKtqDYDx1](https://x.com/OracleNYSE/status/2075213252829630692) - twitter-defense
- [Pentagon picks Lockheed, nLIGHT for laser defense project - Breaking Defense](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/07/pentagon-picks-lockheed-nlight-for-laser-defense-project) - Breaking Defense
- [Department of War Awards Potential $847M OTAs to Advance Joint Laser Weapon System Development](https://www.executivegov.com/articles/dow-other-transaction-authority-joint-laser-weapon-system) - ExecutiveGov