The US Navy is taking delivery of a near-operational high-energy laser weapon system from Lockheed Martin. This laser is designed to be mounted on warships and could be the next step in laser weapon technology. Once the laser is up and running, it can destroy targets upto five miles away with pinpoint accuracy.
The HELIOS weapon system is still in development and has yet to be fully tested. However, it has shown its ability to destroy targets. It has also been shown to have surveillance capabilities. These features will evolve as the Navy develops new missions.
HELIOS laser is intended to be integrated onto ships of the Arleigh-Burke class. It meets both the power requirements and space requirements of the vessel. The laser must be integrated with other parts the ship's combat systems. It will be harder to install and must be tested on land. The laser is expected to be scaled up to 120-150 Kilowatts.
HELIOS has undergone land-based testing on Wallops Island, Virginia, and is expected to continue testing on the Pacific until 2022. The Navy will then determine if the laser can be used to target targets from a distance of at least five miles. The USS Portland, a stronger follow-on system, will conduct a test with the laser on a moving aircraft in the Pacific in May 2020.
According to a Congressional Research Center study, lasers can be a gamechanger in naval warfare. They are cheaper to deploy than anti-air missiles or gunpowder-based ammunition. Additionally, they do not require reloads. Lasers are able to be used at any moment to hit both stationary and moving targets unlike missiles.
Additionally, the laser can easily be manufactured at a fraction of the cost. Compared to traditional anti-air missiles, the cost of a laser is less than $1 per shot. The lasers do not need propellants and can be transported on an electrical grid. If there is a generator aboard the vessel, it can be used as an additional source of power.
For many years, the US Navy has been developing directed energy programs. Theodore Maiman was the one who developed the first laser, in 1960 at Hughes Research Lab Malibu, California. The technology has improved a lot since then. Currently, the US Navy is developing a number of directed energy programs that are in different stages of research. One of these programs, the Layered Laser Defense system (all-electric weapon), is one of them. Although the design is still under development, it is believed that the system could operate with unlimited ammunition.
The US Navy tested mounted lasers for their ability to protect ships from unmanned boats. During this test, the laser was able to knock out a moving target without firing a single bullet.