Directed Energy Futures 2060

DEWs are currently being rapidly developed and proliferated around the world, and DE is globally considered to be a game- changing military technology. The impact DEW technologies will actually have over the next 40 years is still to be seen. This report only seeks to organize thoughts around a realistic vision for DEW technologies in 2060. Data gathered for this report shows that both in the past, today, and likely into the future, 2060, DEW proliferation will be driven by the requirements for three capabilities which will be needed to face enduring challenges. Over the next 40 years, we predict that even in a pessimistic case, the technology barriers for development of high-energy, high-power, operationalized DEWs will be steep, and investment in DE is the key to the U.S. and Allies retaining leadership in these tech areas. This report highlights with factual references to international developments that include ground based, air based, field demonstrations, naval deployments, and highlights several examples of how DE is used in operations today. We are at or near a critical tipping point in DE technology. The pessimistic, conservative, and optimistic alternative futures for DE military utility, proliferation, and technology advancement are described in this report, based on understanding of historical trends, knowledge of the current state of DE, other advanced technology areas, and predictions about major technology drivers over the next 40 years.