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Budget

Counter-Drone Lasers Funded In FY 2017 Omnibus Bill

By Marc Selinger

Thursday, May 4th, 2017

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Counter-Drone Lasers Funded In FY 2017 Omnibus Bill

Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.). Official Senate photo.

The fiscal year 2017 omnibus appropriations bill could help move laser weapons to the battlefield after decades of development, according to a key lawmaker.The recently unveiled legislation contains $16.7 million for the Marine Corps to buy five Boeing [BA] 2-kilowatt laser systems to defend against enemy unmanned aerial vehicles. The funding would support “the rapid production and procurement of the Department of Defense’s first-ever directed energy weapon system to be fielded to U.S. troops in an operational environment,” said Sen.…

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