APPLIED ENERGETICS, INC.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Check the appropriate box:

(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

N/A

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

Tucson, Arizona 85747

November 4, 2026

Dear Stockholder:

I am pleased to invite you to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Applied Energetics, Inc. (“Applied Energetics”) on December 15, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Arizona time (the “Annual Meeting”). The Annual Meeting will be held at Applied Energetics’ headquarters at 9070 S Rita Road, Suite 1500, Tucson, Arizona 85747. During our Annual Meeting, we will discuss each item of business described in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, and, as time permits at the end of the Annual Meeting, we will discuss our business operations and answer questions.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER SHARES OF COMMON STOCK THAT YOU OWN. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we hope you will vote as soon as possible. You may vote prior to the Annual Meeting by any of the following methods:

On behalf of the Board of Directors and management, I thank you for your continued support and hope you will attend the Annual Meeting.

The notice also contains instructions on how to receive a printed copy of your proxy materials. You may vote over the internet or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, you can also vote by mail pursuant to instructions provided on the proxy card (or voting instruction form, if you hold your shares through a broker). Please review the instructions for each of your voting options described in the Proxy Statement, as well as in the notice you will receive in the mail.

We are delighted to have you as a stockholder of Applied Energetics and thank you for your ongoing support.

Sincerely,

/s/ Christopher Donaghey

President and Chief Executive Officer

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD DECEMBER 15, 2026

TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF APPLIED ENERGETICS, INC.:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Applied Energetics, Inc. (“Applied Energetics” or the “Company”) will be held on Tuesday, December 15, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Arizona time (the “Annual Meeting”), at the Company’s headquarters at 9070 S Rita Road, Suite 1500, Tucson, Arizona 85747, for the following purposes:

The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Stockholders. We are beginning mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) on or about November 4, 2026, to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 19, 2026. The Notice contains instructions on how to access our Proxy Statement, our 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the form of proxy on the Internet, as well as instructions on how to request a paper copy of the proxy materials. Only stockholders of the Company of record at the close of business on October 19, 2026, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

All stockholders of the Company are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting. However, to ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting, you are urged to vote in advance over the Internet, or by marking, signing, dating, and returning your proxy card. You may revoke your voted proxy at any time prior to the Annual Meeting or vote in person if you attend the Annual Meeting.

IMPORTANT: WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO VOTE YOUR SHARES PROMPTLY TO ENSURE THEY ARE REPRESENTED. NOTE THAT IF YOUR SHARES ARE HELD BY A BROKER OR OTHER INTERMEDIARY, AND YOU WISH TO VOTE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU MUST OBTAIN A LEGAL PROXY FORM FROM THAT RECORD HOLDER.

The Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, are available at:www.proxyvote.comor our website,www.appliedenergetics.com.

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