The US Navy has completed tests of its High-Energy Laser with an Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system, marking a significant advancement in directed-energy weapon technology.
An image released by the US Center for Countermeasures shows the HELIOS system, mounted on the USS Preble, successfully engaging a drone target.
The test, detailed in the Center’s annual report, validated the system’s functionality and performance against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
While specifics regarding the test remain undisclosed, the successful engagement demonstrates a key step toward deploying cost-effective laser weapons to counter emerging threats.
Developed by Lockheed Martin, the 60-kilowatt HELIOS laser boasts both “hard kill” capabilities, physically destroying targets, and “soft kill” capabilities, disabling enemy systems through electronic disruption.
Lockheed Martin highlights the weapon’s low cost per engagement, rapid speed of light delivery, and precision as key advantages. The system’s design allows for potential power upgrades to 120 kilowatts in the future.
Despite the successful test, the Navy acknowledges ongoing challenges in developing laser weapons, including power supply, environmental factors, and system integration. However, the demonstrated effectiveness of HELIOS is expected to accelerate the Navy’s directed-energy weapon programs.
The development of laser weapons is also underway in several other countries, including the UK, South Korea, Israel, Turkey, Germany, and Japan.
