Abstract: The present state and future development trends for the novel highenergy laser weapons are reviewed in this paper. The requirement and challenge for the technology of the optical metrology test for the devdopment of highenergy laser weapons are discussed. The chemical lasers, solidstate lasers, and optical fiber lasers, as the core of high energy laser weapons, are introduced in more detail. It is pointed out that the optical metrology test must meet the needs on the research and development of highenergy laser weapon systems, the further research on the mechanism of interaction of a laser with target materials should be taken, and a system for accurately orienting, aiming and tracking the target is still needed.