The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Directed Energy Directorate held a wargaming, modeling, and simulation event to evaluate the capabilities of directed energy for the future battlefield. According to this article, F-16 pilots, F-15E weapon system officers, and an E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System air battle manager practiced navigating situations with a simulated laser weapon on a fighter jet that is similar to the Self-Protect High-Energy Laser Demonstrator. This exercise allowed the pilots to engage in scenarios using an airborne laser to defeat incoming threats.
![210114-F-WV904-1023 Source: U.S. Air Force photo/Todd Berenger, https://media.defense.gov/2021/Jan/27/2002571809/-1/-1/0/210114-F-WV904-1023.JPG](https://dsiac.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/210114-F-WV904-1023-scaled-panorama-97f50c7ca08b3a45410f56749d150371-606f18b19a072.jpg)
Source: U.S. Air Force photo/Todd Berenger, https://media.defense.gov/2021/Jan/27/2002571809/-1/-1/0/210114-F-WV904-1023.JPG
February 17, 2021 | Originally published by Air Force Magazine on February 5, 2021