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Sep 4, 2026 · 53m · 2 min read
Wayne Sanders (Bloomberg Intelligence, former Army colonel) breaks down the physics and economics of directed-energy weapons — lasers and high-powered microwaves — arguing the field is finally moving from decades of R&D into real procurement. Notable calls: he sizes the current directed-energy market at $6-8 billion, growing 2-3x over the next decade; flags the Pentagon's target of a one-megawatt laser by 2030 as contingent on unresolved physics; and argues disruptors like Anduril and Castelion are positioned to take growing share of the low-cost, mid-tier interceptor market from primes over the next three to five years. This is a technology/industrial-base explainer rather than a market-timing call — no price levels, tickers, or trades were given.
This is the super-short version — click for the full summary →