US Navy Tests Laser Weapon to Shoot Down Drone

Tue Feb 04 2025
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Key points

  • US Office of the Director released an image of the USS Preble deploying its HELIOS laser
  • HELIOS programme was started in 2018 with a $150 million contract given to Lockheed Martin
  • HELIOS operates at a starting power of 60 kilowatts, with the potential to increase to 120 kilowatts

ISLAMABAD: The US Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, in its 2024 report, released an image of the USS Preble (DDG-88) deploying its HELIOS laser weapon system at sea. That image, one of the clearest so far, highlights the increasing importance of this technology in Washington’s strategic vision.

The HELIOS system (High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance) significantly transitions from theoretically directed energy weapons to their concrete and operational application on the battlefield, according to the Sun.

HELIOS, developed by Lockheed Martin, shows the US Navy’s commitment to integrating directed energy weapons into its fleet to increase defence capabilities against modern threats.

This system combines a high-energy laser, an optical dazzler, and an advanced surveillance capability, providing a layered defence approach that allows targets to be physically neutralized and their sensors disrupted. The Navy aims to counter threats like drones, fast attack craft, and potentially short-range missiles.

HELIOS programme

The HELIOS programme was started in 2018 with an initial $150 million contract given to Lockheed Martin for the development, manufacturing, and delivery of two systems—one for land-based testing and another for naval integration.

After successfully passing its Critical Design Review in 2020, sea trials started in 2021 at Wallops Island, Virginia. The USS Preble was the first Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to be laced with the system, marking a major milestone in the adoption of directed energy weapons within the U.S. Navy.

HELIOS operates at a starting power of 60 kilowatts, with the potential to increase to 120 kilowatts depending on operational needs.

Unlike conventional ammunition-based systems, this laser weapon provides an important operational advantage: virtually unlimited firing capacity as long as power is provided.

Ship operational endurance

This minimises logistical constraints related to ammunition resupply and enlarges the ship’s operational endurance, particularly in scenarios where resupply options may be limited.

Beyond its destructive ability, the system includes an optical dazzler designed to temporarily disable enemy surveillance sensors, adding a strategic advantage in reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance operations.

Its integration with the Aegis combat system allows for seamless coordination with other defensive measures, enhancing overall combat effectiveness.

HELIOS has undergone constant testing. The US Navy’s Center for Countermeasures (CCM) supervised demonstrations in which the system successfully engaged unmanned aerial targets.

In FY24, CCM conducted 32 tests to evaluate airborne countermeasures, counter-unmanned aircraft systems, and the development and assessment of directed energy weapons as potential countermeasures.

Radio frequency countermeasures

Moreover, CCM partnered with allied forces to advance the development and testing of infrared and radio frequency countermeasures.

The inclusion of HELIOS aboard the USS Preble is the first step. The US Navy also plans to increase the use of directed energy weapons to other vessels, involving more powerful systems like the 150-kilowatt Laser Weapon System Demonstrator (LWSD), already deployed on select ships.

This expansion coincides with a broader military strategy aimed at developing cost-effective defence solutions tailored to evolving asymmetric threats.

The HELIOS system is designed to protect naval assets from various dangers, including drones, fast attack craft, and cruise missiles. It brings together a high-energy laser capable of physically destroying targets with an optical dazzler to disable enemy sensors.

Advanced surveillance

Besides this, it provides advanced surveillance and intelligence capabilities, increasing situational awareness for operators.

Amid its competitors, the Israeli-developed “Iron Beam” system is designed to intercept drones, rockets, and mortar shells at a lower cost per engagement.

Similarly, South Korea recently introduced the “Block-I” system, a 100-kilowatt laser weapon tailored to counter drones and other aerial threats.

Other nations, including China, Russia, and Germany, are also investing in this technology, highlighting the increasing global competition in directed energy-based defence systems.

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