The directed energy weapon market is projected to grow from USD 5.3 Billion in 2022 to USD 12.9 Billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 19.6% from 2022 to 2027. Increasing demand for modern weapons to conduct successful combat operation and rising development of compact DEW for UAV platforms to drive market growth during the forecast period.
A directed energy weapon (DEW) is a ranged weapon that damages its target with highly focused energy, including laser, microwaves, and particle beams. Potential applications of this technology include weapons that target personnel, missiles, vehicles, and optical devices. In US, the Pentagon, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Air Force Research Laboratory, US Army Armament Research Development and Engineering Center, and the Naval Research Laboratory are researching directed-energy weapons and railguns to counter ballistic missiles, hypersonic cruise missiles, and hypersonic glide vehicles.

A DEW is a future weapon system that emits highly focused energy for target destruction. The potential applications of this advanced technology include anti-personnel weapon systems, missile defense systems, and disabling of lightly armored vehicles.

A key driver propelling the growth of the global DEW market is the defense of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials so that civilian lives and the national security of a country can be preserved. DEW equipment like lasers, radiation detectors, and biosensors are being used to defend against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies. Training fire department personnel, police, and paramilitary forces to use these weapons will help them be more effective in performing their roles. These factors will lead to the purchase of different types of DEW and result in the growth of the global DEW market during the forecast period.

Based on technology, high energy laser segment is projected to lead the directed energy weapons market during the forecast period
Based on technology, the directed energy weapon market has been segmented into high energy laser (HEL), high-power microwave (HPM), electromagnetic weapons, and sonic weapon. HEL segment witness significant growth during the forecast period. A laser is a device that emits light through a course of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. A laser is different from other sources of light as it emits light that is coherent. Spatial coherence allows a laser to be focused on a tight spot, enabling applications such as directed energy weapon systems. A large amount of focused energy is delivered by high-energy lasers to a faraway target at the speed of light, thereby causing structural and incendiary damage. High-energy laser systems use photons, or light particles, to carry out military missions and civil defense. This directed energy technology enables the detection of threats, tracking during maneuvers, and positive visual identification to defeat a wide range of threats, including unmanned aerial systems, rockets, artillery, and mortars.

Based on application, military segment to witness higher growth during forecast period
Directed energy weapon market divided into military and homeland security. The directed energy weapons market for the defense segment is estimated to witness a high growth rate as compared to the homeland security segment. The need to protect against different types of threats, which may require a qualitatively different response and force, has fueled the growth of the directed energy weapons market. Technological upgrades of existing products and new product launches are also key factors influencing market growth.

The North America region dominated the market with largest share in 2022
North America is estimated to account for largest share in 2022. This growth can be attributed to the need to counter the rising terrorist activities and the consequent implementation of various military equipment modernization programs expected to propel major defense manufacturers of the region to develop more techno-efficient directed energy weapons.
The North American directed energy weapons market includes US and Canada. US contributed the largest share to the directed energy weapons market in 2022 due to the increased demand for high-energy laser systems and high-power microwave systems in the country on its military bases in overseas deployment. This region is expected to witness a significant increase in research & development activities, particularly in high-energy laser system technologies.

The break-up of the profiles of primary participants in the directed energy weapon market is as follows:

  • By Company Type: Tier 1–35%; Tier 2–45%; and Tier 3–20%
  • By Designation: C Level Executives–35%; Directors–25%; and Others–40%
  • By Region: Asia Pacific–30%; North America–40%; Europe–20%; and Rest of the World–10%


Major players in the directed energy weapon market are Raytheon Technologies Corporation (US), Northrop Grumman Corporation (US), Lockheed Martin Corporation (US), Thales Group (France), and BAE Systems plc (UK). These companies adopted strategies including new product launches, new service launches, contracts, partnerships, agreements, collaborations, and expansions. Also focusing on expanding distribution networks in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World in turn driving the demand for directed energy weapon market.

Research Coverage
This research report categorizes classified the directed energy weapon market into platform, application, range, technology, product, and region. The directed energy weapon market has been studied for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World.
The scope of the report covers detailed information regarding the major factors, such as drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities, influencing the growth of the directed energy weapon market. A detailed analysis of the key industry players has been done to provide insights into their business overviews; solutions and services; key strategies; contracts, joint ventures, partnerships & agreements, acquisitions, and new product launches associated with the directed energy weapon market. Competitive analysis of upcoming startups in the directed energy weapon market ecosystem is covered in this report.

Reasons To Buy this Report
This report is expected to help market leaders/new entrants with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall directed energy weapon market and its segments. This study is also expected to provide platform-wise information, wherein different DEW technology is used for different platforms. This report aims at helping the stakeholders understand the competitive landscape of the market, gain insights to improve the position of their businesses, and plan suitable go-to-market strategies. This report is also expected to help them understand the pulse of the market and provide them with information on key drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities influencing the growth of the market.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:

  • Market Penetration: Comprehensive information on directed energy weapon system offered by the top players in the market.
  • Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and new product and services launches in the directed energy weapon market.
  • Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets – the report analyzes the directed energy weapon market across varied regions.
  • Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the directed energy weapon market
  • Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of leading players in the directed energy weapon market