Skip to main content

REP LIEU STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF DIRECTED ENERGY TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

December 6, 2022

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement following the news that Lockheed Martin and Israeli company Rafael are cooperating to jointly develop, test, and manufacture High Energy Laser Weapon Systems (HELWS). Congressman Lieu introduced the United States-Israel Directed Energy Cooperation Act in 2019, which authorized DOD to research, develop, test, and evaluate joint US-Israel directed energy capabilities to address threats to both the United States and Israel. This bill was passed into law as part of the FY 2021 national defense spending package.

"I am pleased that Lockheed Martin and Rafael will be jointly developing, testing, and manufacturing laser defense systems in the United States and Israel. In order to protect our nation, we must work alongside allies like Israel to address urgent threats to our national security. Directed energy technologies like those that will be developed through this partnership will improve our defense capabilities while ensuring greater security for our allies. I am pleased to have led the effort to leverage the U.S. and Israel's expertise in defense technology development by introducing the U.S.-Israel Directed Energy Cooperation Act. It is essential that the United States and our allies work together to counter the increasingly sophisticated threats we face."

###