8-K
APPLIED ENERGETICS, INC. (AERG)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT
REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION
13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) August 14, 2025
APPLIED ENERGETICS,
INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
| 001-14015 | 77-0262908 |
|---|---|
| (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| 9070 S. Rita Road, Suite 1500, Tucson, Arizona | 85747 |
| --- | --- |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
(520) 628-7415
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (seeGeneral Instruction A.2. below):
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities<br>Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
|---|---|
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange<br>Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| --- | --- |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b)<br>under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| --- | --- |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c)<br>under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
| --- | --- |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company: ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
|---|---|---|
| Common Stock, par value $.001 per share | AERG | OTCQB |
Item 7.01 -- RegulationFD Disclosure.
On August 14, 2025, our President and CEO issued an open letter to our stockholders. The letter was publicly released in a press release of the same date and will be available on the company’s website at www.appliedenergetics.com.
A copy of the press release, including the letter, is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01 -- Exhibits
| 99.1 | Press Release, dated as of August 14, 2025, titled “Applied Energetics CEO Issues Letter to Shareholders.” |
|---|---|
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline<br>XBRL document) |
1
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this amended report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| APPLIED ENERGETICS, INC. | |
|---|---|
| By: | /s/ Christopher Donaghey |
| Christopher Donaghey, President and | |
| Chief Executive Officer |
Date: August 14, 2025
2
Exhibit 99.1
Applied Energetics CEO Issues Letter to Shareholders
Tucson, Ariz. – August 14, 2025 — Applied Energetics, Inc*.* (OTCQB: AERG), a leader in ultrashort pulse directed energy and optical technologies, issued a letter to shareholders from Chris Donaghey, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Applied Energetics.
Dear Shareholders,
The first half of 2025 has been a period of strategic execution and measurable progress for Applied Energetics as we continue advancing our leadership in ultrashort pulse laser (USPL) and directed energy solutions. We achieved critical technical milestones in our Pulsed Lethality for Air Defense – Low Altitude (PLAID™-L) program, including surpassing peak power performance targets in live system testing — an accomplishment highlighted in our recent public announcements. Our internal investments in multi-wavelength capabilities, advanced beam control, and packaging and productization are expanding our addressable market and deepening our relevance to urgent defense priorities.
Throughout the second quarter and into the third, we have accelerated engagement with current and potential customers, partners, and the broader defense innovation community. We showcased our progress through demonstrations, technical briefings, and thought leadership events, reinforcing the transformative potential of our technology. Our expanded engineering team and upgraded facilities are enabling faster development cycles and the ability to integrate our solutions across a broader range of platforms. The reception from U.S. and allied defense organizations has been encouraging, with growing demand signals for systems capable of countering evolving threats such as Group 1-2 UAS, countering electro-optic sensors, as well as applications supporting the Golden Dome for America initiative.
Furthermore, as reflected in the “Subsequent Events” section of the recently filed financial statements, the company recently accepted paid-in capital of just under $3 million to help support our growth and strategic initiatives. Over the next six to 12 months, we expect these initiatives to include: indoor and outdoor testing, additional expansion of our scientific, engineering and corporate personnel, new potential partnerships and engagement with DOD and commercial defense tech integrators, potential uplisting to a national stock market, and continued marketing to the greater defense tech community.
Looking ahead to the remainder of 2025, we also intend to remain focused on completing the next phases of PLAID™-L development, developing and securing additional program awards, and expanding our IP portfolio to protect our technological lead. We are executing a strategy that balances near-term demonstration capacity while building long-term capability, as we endeavor to position Applied Energetics to meet both current and future defense requirements. As I’ve shared in recent communications, our mission extends beyond technology development — we are committed to redefining how directed energy is deployed to safeguard national security and ultimately achieving our vision statement: Directed Energy, Anywhere^TM^.
Thank you for your continued trust and support as we deliver on that mission.
Sincerely,
Chris Donaghey
President & Chief Executive Officer
Applied Energetics, Inc.
About Applied Energetics, Inc.
Applied Energetics, Inc. specializes in optical fiber-based ultrashort pulse (USP) laser technologies for countering drones, ISR sensors, hypersonic weapons, and other applications.
With 27 patents and 7 patents pending, Applied Energetics’ proprietary architecture enables orders of magnitude size-weight-power reductions, a key differentiator when compared with traditional continuous wave (CW) laser technology with larger footprints. AE’s powerful, dual-use systems are designed for integration and deployment on numerous potential defense platforms for the delivery of high intensity, ultrashort pulses of light to disable or destroy a target. These technologies have applications in both national security and commercial markets. Today, AE’s USP optical technologies are being designed to offer flexibility and power for complex missions in national security such as enhancing layered defense strategies to counter complex threats.
For more information about Applied Energetics and its innovative technologies, please visit www.appliedenergetics.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to the historical or current facts and can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “may,” “believe,” “will,” “expect,” “project,” “anticipate,” “estimates,” “plans,” “strategy,” “target,” “prospects,” or “continue,” and words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of our management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect our current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition and may cause our actual results, performances or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. We do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking statements.
Applied Energetics, Inc. Investor information contact:
Kevin McGrath, Managing Director
Cameron Associates, Inc.
kevin@cameronassoc.com
T: 646-418-7002
SOURCE: Applied Energetics, Inc.