They used the wrong term. According to DOD’s Joint Publication 3–13 Electronic Warfare, directed energy (DE) is described as an;
an umbrella term covering technologies that produce a beam of concentrated electromagnetic energy
or atomic or subatomic particles. A DE weapon is a system using DE primarily as a direct means to
disable, damage, or destroy adversary equipment, facilities, and personnel. DE warfare is military
action involving the use of DE weapons, devices, and countermeasures to either cause direct damage or
destruction of adversary equipment, facilities, and personnel, or to determine, exploit, reduce, or prevent hostile use of the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) through damage, destruction, and disruption.
https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Portals/68/Documents/prism/prism_8-3/prism_8-3_Obering_36-46.pdf
They used the wrong term. According to DOD’s Joint Publication 3–13 Electronic Warfare, directed energy (DE) is described as an; an umbrella term covering technologies that produce a beam of concentrated electromagnetic energy or atomic or subatomic particles. A DE weapon is a system using DE primarily as a direct means to disable, damage, or destroy adversary equipment, facilities, and personnel. DE warfare is military action involving the use of DE weapons, devices, and countermeasures to either cause direct damage or destruction of adversary equipment, facilities, and personnel, or to determine, exploit, reduce, or prevent hostile use of the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) through damage, destruction, and disruption. https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Portals/68/Documents/prism/prism_8-3/prism_8-3_Obering_36-46.pdf