US Must Boost Energy Arms Development, as China is Overtaking – Think Tank

Direct-energy weapons use highly focused energy, including electromagnetic radiation, microwave, laser or sound to damage a target.

“By 2022, China may overtake the United States in terms of total research and development spending,” said the study on energy weapons published by the Center for a New American Security on Tuesday.

The military advantage of the United States is endangered by Japan and South Korea along with China, the author said, urging the country to use the opportunity to adopt, learn or tap into new international scientific developments.

The United States tested its first operational Laser Weapon System built into an Austin-class amphibious transport dock USS Ponce in December 2014.