The US Navy has commissioned Raytheon, an RTX business, to develop and deploy two revolutionary microwave-directed energy weapon systems designed to neutralize airborne threats at the speed of light, RTX said in a press release on Tuesday.

Under a three-year, $31.3 million contract from the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Raytheon is tasked with designing, building, and testing two high-power microwave antenna systems as part of the Directed Energy Front-Line Electromagnetic Neutralization and Defeat (DEFEND) program.

The cutting-edge systems are set to be delivered to both the US Navy and the US Air Force.

The key focus of the project is to create robust and transportable defense systems for front-line deployment. The microwave-directed energy weapons aim to provide non-kinetic defense solutions, RTX said.

According to the press release, Raytheon Advanced Technology President Colin Whelan emphasized the significance of the new iterations.

"Non-kinetic defense systems are a key part of America's national defense strategy. The new iterations of Raytheon's high-power microwave systems are cost-effective and reliable solutions that operate at the speed of light – enabling our warfighters to defend against faster and more maneuverable threats," he stressed.

The project, being executed in collaboration with the US Air Force Research Lab, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, is underway in Tucson, Arizona.

Prototypes of the microwave-directed energy weapon systems are expected to be delivered during fiscal years 2024 and 2026.