Pentagon Racing to Create New Weapon That Can Deter China, Says Official

The U.S. Navy Afloat Forward Staging Base USS Ponce (AFSB(I)-15) conducts an operational demonstration of the Office of Naval Research (ONR)-sponsored Laser Weapon System (LaWS) while deployed to the Arabian Gulf. JOHN F. WILLIAMS/U.S. NAVY

WASHINGTON–The Defense Department’s highest priority when it comes to developing new technologies is creating weapons to deter Beijing aggression, a newly appointed undersecretary of defense told lawmakers on April 18.

Michael D. Griffin, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, appeared before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on April 18 to discuss new technologies and threats affecting U.S. national security.