Directed Energy Weapons – Component of Disruptive Emerging Technology with Implications on Strategic Stability

Directed energy weapons represent an emerging, disruptive, credible, relevant technology with the potential for use in all military action domains and with the role of influencing the power balance globally. Given that the nature of the threats has changed in the current security environment, the great powers need a more strategic approach to capitalize on future technologies, including directed energy weapons, in a successful manner. Against the background of escalating tensions in many regions of the globe, emerging technologies are an essential lever for both defence and deterrence. In relation to conventional kinetic weapons, directed energy weapons have some advantages – precision, reduced costs, calibrated effects, possibility to be employed to neutralize vital targets for adversaries without causing collateral damages –, but also some disadvantages: decreasing the force and effect of the radius/beam, relatively range short, impossibility of being employed against the targets located behind some obstacles, low progress in adapting to the needs of the armed forces services and fielding in weapon systems. Electromagnetic radiation is critical for communications, command and control, navigation, targets acquisition, information collection, surveillance, reconnaissance, missile guidance, early warning, and neutralization of targets, aspects that have propelled the development of capabilities, including directed energy weapons directed, to counteract efficient use of electromagnetic spectrum or to neutralize some targets.