PHAROS Day: "Directed Energy Weapons"

This event, organized by ALPHA-RLH, Aerospace Valley, and CEA Gramat, took place on January 29, 2026, at the Grand Couvent in Gramat, with 120 participants in attendance. It brought together manufacturers and laboratories from the laser and microwave communities todiscuss the state of the art, operational solutions, current limitations, and possible improvements to directed energy weapons (DEWs).

The morning program includes conferences with the Defense Innovation Agency, the Directorate General of Armament, the Space Command, CEA Gramat, ITOPP, Inoveos, CILAS, and MBDA, followed by a pitching session.

In the afternoon, participants visited the CEA Gramat facilities (Hypérion and Mélusine anechoic chambers, Bèdes chasm site), which are used to conduct vulnerability studies on systems and infrastructure subject to electromagnetic attacks.

Several exhibitors had the opportunity to present their technologies and work in the fields of photonic and electronic systems, and directed electromagnetic and laser energy.

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