Lasers, the Price of Admission in 2045

High power laser weapons exist today and will become the price of admission for future combatand it is time to get informed! This study uses open source material to investigate how laser weapons will influence the United States power projection capabilities in highly contested environments in 2045. Now and in the future, the United States will require air superiority and airpower effects. Laser weapons may be game-changers for power projection in the short term; however, the United States can maximize their effectiveness by looking beyond their initial introduction and into the innovation and counter-innovation cycle of future warfare.