The U.S. Army aims to produce up to 20 high-energy laser weapons to down three different classes of small drones, according to a recent Request for Information released by service.

At at time when drone intrusions into the airspace of NATO nations are becoming an increasing concern, the request from the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office invites private industry to share ideas for flexible laser weapons to create its new Enduring-High Energy Laser, or E-HEL, system.

The new system is expected to kill smaller drones categorized by the Defense Department as falling within three categories called groups one to three, which range from miniature drones about the size of the Air Force’s Wasp III in group one to drones of comparable scale to the Army’s RQ-7B Shado

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