Adm. Aquilino Embraces Expanded Directed-Energy Trials

Admiral John Aquilino, the U.S. commander in the Indo-Pacific, expressed interest in expanding the experimentation and deployment of directed-energy weapons, such as high-energy lasers and high-power microwaves, to gain asymmetric advantages against threats. The Pentagon has been investing billions of dollars in the development of these weapons, with the Navy already utilizing systems like HELIOS and ODIN to counter drones and small boats. Aquilino emphasized the need for accelerated delivery of these capabilities and expressed readiness to experiment with them, given the vast test range available in the Indo-Pacific region.