Steve Watson – modernity.news Jan 23, 2026

After continued rumours that U.S. special forces used advanced black budget weaponry in the raid to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, the Department of War has now openly admitted to possessing directed energy weapons and said it is ramping up their production.

Directed energy weapons, including lasers and microwaves, enable precise targeting with reduced collateral damage compared to traditional munitions.

The confirmation came from the Department of War’s Chief Technology Officer via a post on X:

President Trump has referenced advanced U.S. weaponry on several occasions recently. Last April, he described capabilities “that nobody has any idea what it is… more powerful than anybody.”

He repeated the claim during a recent Newsmax interview.

At the 2026 World Economic Forum this week, Trump mentioned the use of a weapon that prevented enemies from firing shots during the Venezuela raid.

As we previously highlighted, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt discussed a Venezuelan guard’s account of U.S. forces using a sonic weapon that caused physical distress among defenders.

The guard stated: “Suddenly I felt like my head was exploding from the inside. We all started bleeding from the nose. Some were vomiting blood. We fell to the ground, unable to move.”

Sonic weapons differ from electromagnetic directed energy systems but represent a category of non-lethal or disruptive technologies.

The raid resulted in no U.S. casualties, demonstrating the potential effectiveness of such tools in operations.

Development of directed energy weapons stretches back decades, with foundational research dating to the 1960s and a major public push during Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).

In his March 23, 1983 televised address, Reagan called for technologies—including space-based lasers—that could render nuclear weapons “impotent and obsolete.”

Long portrayed as distant sci-fi, these systems are now finally moving from prolonged experimentation and limited prototypes toward scaled production and routine deployment across multiple military branches.

The Navy is considering megawatt-class lasers for new battleships, with power levels of 300-600 kW for defense against incoming threats, while the Army is seeking proposals for Enduring High-Energy Laser systems to counter drone swarms, planning up to 20 units with testing at Dugway Proving Ground.

The Air Force also views directed energy weapons as essential for integrated operations against advanced adversaries.

Recent market analyses indicate growth in the directed energy weapons sector. Projections estimate the market at $10.75 billion in 2026, rising to $23.83 billion by 2035 due to increased military funding.

High-power microwave systems are forecasted to reach $3.65 billion by 2030, focusing on electronic disruption.

Congressional reports outline the Department of War’s plan to increase laser power from 150 kW to 500 kW by 2030 and megawatts thereafter, with FY2025 funding at $789.7 million.

Raytheon has also secured an Army contract for wireless power beaming to support directed energy weapon logistics.

These advancements reflect a broader shift toward energy-based systems in U.S. military strategy, potentially influencing future conflicts and defense priorities, and most definitely putting America’s adversaries on notice.

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