Innovations in Directed Energy Defense Systems
Kord Technologies LLC, a defense contractor based in the United States, has recently been awarded a significant patent in the field of directed energy weapons. The patent, titled “High energy laser defense weapon system with automated UAS detection and classification functionality” (Patent Number: 12716695), was invented by David Benjamin Allison. The company’s official website can be found at http://www.kordtechnologies.com. This development represents a structured advancement in countering unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) using directed energy technology.
The invention is highly innovative because it consolidates a complete high energy laser weapon system into a fully self-contained unit. This unit includes an integrated power supply, thermal management, high-capacity batteries, radar, and electronic warfare subsystems. Furthermore, the system incorporates advanced artificial intelligence detection and tracking algorithms. These algorithms allow operators to detect, track, classify, and neutralize incoming aerial threats at standoff ranges. By combining these complex optical, power, and tracking components into a single architecture, the system achieves a reduction in size, weight, and power consumption while maintaining operational effectiveness.
Patent of the Month for September 2026
This patent was recognized as the patent of the month for the machine-tool-die-defense industry for the month of September 2026 due to its meticulous integration of precision hardware with software-driven defense mechanisms. The machine-tool and die sector prioritizes exact tolerances and ruggedized engineering, both of which are strictly required to align the high energy laser fast steering mirrors and optical payload modules described in the patent. By successfully merging these precision manufacturing requirements with critical defense applications, the patent sets a new standard for scalability and reliability in the production of modern defense equipment.
Eligibility for USA R&D Tax Credits
The practical applications and development of this patent present strong eligibility for the Research and Development Tax Credit in the United States. To create this self-contained system, engineers would have had to resolve numerous technical uncertainties related to thermal management, continuous laser operation, and the real-time processing of artificial intelligence targeting data. The iterative design, testing, and refinement of the fast steering mirror assembly and integrated radar modules constitute a clear process of experimentation. Because these activities rely on the principles of engineering, physics, and computer science to create a fundamentally improved product, the expenses incurred during the development and prototyping phases align directly with the requirements of the four-part test under Section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code.
