Air Force Weapons Laboratory

The Air Force Weapons Laboratory (AFWL) was established in 1963 at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, as part of the Air Force Systems Command. Its primary mission was to research, develop, and test advanced weapon systems, with a significant focus on nuclear weapons effects and directed energy technologies. Throughout the Cold War, the laboratory played a crucial role in assessing nuclear survivability and advancing pulsed power and laser systems. In 1997, the AFWL was merged into the Phillips Laboratory, which later became part of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), continuing its legacy of cutting-edge military research.