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Directed energy · Land

IFPC-HEL (Valkyrie)

300 kW Army laser prototype for cruise missile and drone defense.

by Lockheed Martin

PrototypeDirected energyLandCancelledMar 9, 2026
Milestones20232026
  1. Contract awardArmy OTA for IFPC-HEL prototypes (ceiling $220.8M), confirmed
  2. CancelledArmy drops plan to transition IFPC-HEL to a program of record, reported

Army Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser prototypes built by Lockheed Martin; the Army dropped plans to make it a program of record in 2026.

Timeline2

  1. Contract awardConfirmed

    Army OTA for IFPC-HEL prototypes (ceiling $220.8M)

    SourcesU.S. Department of Defense

  2. CancelledReported

    Army drops plan to transition IFPC-HEL to a program of record

    SourcesMilitary Times

Solid entries are confirmed, outlined reported, dashed estimated or still to come; dotted italic entries are speculative. Dates show only the precision the sources give.

Sources2

  1. 1.
    NewsThe US Army is already ditching its most powerful laser weapon yet

    Military Times · Mar 23, 2026 · Supports: System, System milestone

    “on March 9, Army officials revealed that the service no longer plans on transitioning its 300 kilowatt Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser system, or IFPC-HEL, dubbed “Valkyrie,” to a program of record”
  2. 2.
    Government recordContracts For Jul. 19, 2023

    U.S. Department of Defense · Jul 19, 2023 · Supports: System, System milestone

    “Lockheed Martin Aculight Corp., Bothell, Washington, was awarded an Other Transaction Authority agreement with a ceiling of $220,842,090 to develop, integrate, manufacture, test, and deliver Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser prototype weapon systems.”

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