There has been much conjecture about Direct Energy Weapons (DEW) since San Diego County, California in 2020-21 and Maui, Honolulu was wiped out by fires in 2023.
Several investigators believed they were started by space-based DEW’s. Australian investigators in 2019-20 also believed the ‘Black Summer Bushfires’ were caused by DEW’s leaving devastating, widespread damage to infrastructure and bushland across southern states.
A scientist Cairns News spoke to about DEW’s at the time said it was doubtful space-based DEW’s could generate enough power for their laser beams to reach Earth yielding sufficient destructive capacity.
https://cairnsnews.org/2023/12/01/airborne-laser-dew-a-handy-fire-lighter/
It is hard to know what is the truth but when the results of the fires are analysed there is no doubt that soft metals in cars melted yet trees and vegetation alongside were untouched.
Particularly blue coloured objects such as cars and plastics or homes with blue roofs were not affected. Cairns News published a photograph of a beam from the sky which allegedly started a fire in the California hills.
When it comes to alleged sabotage of the Geelong fuel refinery by an aircraft DEW then it becomes another matter. Below is a table of energy requirements for DEW’s sourced from AI:
The energy required to power a directed-energy weapon (DEW) varies significantly based on the target and the intended effect (e.g., “dazzling” a sensor versus physically destroying a hull). For modern tactical systems, power requirements generally range from 10 kilowatts (kW) to several hundred kilowatts, with strategic systems aiming for megawatt (MW) levels.
Power Levels by Target Type
Military requirements often categorise DEWs based on the power output needed to neutralise specific threats:
- 10–30 kW: Effective for “soft kills” (dazzling sensors) or destroying small, low-end drones (Class I and II UAVs).
- 50–100 kW: The current “tactical weapons-grade” standard. These systems can destroy drones, rockets, artillery, and mortar rounds within seconds.
- 300 kW: Required for larger threats, such as cruise missiles or small, fast-attack boats.
- 1 MW (1,000 kW): The threshold for “strategic” weapons, intended to destroy high-speed ballistic missiles or targets at extreme ranges.
Real-World System Examples
| System Name | Power Output | Target/Capability |
|---|---|---|
| AIM Defence Suitcase Laser | < 10 kW | Drone “hard kill” at 500m; uses less power than a kettle |
| LOCUST (US Navy) | 20–26 kW | Defeating small drones |
| Guardian (US Army) | 50 kW | Point defence against drones and artillery |
| DragonFire (UK) | 50 kW | Engaging line-of-sight targets |
| HELIOS (US Navy) | 60–120 kW | Destroying drones and small boats; integrated on the USS Preble |
| Valkyrie (US Army) | 300 kW | Defensive shield against cruise missiles and larger UAVs |
Efficiency and Prime Power
The “output power” (the beam itself) is only a fraction of the total energy the weapon must draw from its platform:
- System Efficiency: High-energy lasers are typically only 30% to 50% efficient. This means a 100 kW laser beam might require a 200 kW to 330 kW electrical power supply.
- Total Energy per Shot: A high-power microwave (HPM) weapon might require roughly 75 kilojoules (kJ) to affect a target over a 3-second “dwell time”. For context, a 300 kW laser draws enough power to support approximately 30 households simultaneously while firing.
- Waste Heat: Because of the low efficiency, these weapons generate massive amounts of waste heat that require dedicated shipboard or vehicle-mounted cooling systems.
