According to Lockheed Martin, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Preble employed its High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance system, known as HELIOS, to engage and neutralise four drones during a Navy-run counter-UAS event. The activity took place last year and was disclosed publicly as part of the company’s latest financial update. …
HELIOS is a roughly 60-kilowatt class laser integrated directly into the Aegis Combat System, allowing it to be operated alongside conventional radar, sensors and weapons. Installed aboard USS Preble, a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the system is designed to perform both so-called soft-kill functions, such as dazzling or degrading optical sensors, and hard-kill engagements by heating and damaging the structure of a target.
— Lisa West in American warship downs drones with laser weapon
sheesh. i just want a blue one that will pop tires.
I’m waiting for the hand held light saber. In green please…
I wonder if our old pal Possum had any luck with getting his 40 watt phased array system working before he fell off the face of the earth.
i would ask gadflag but the phone he posted is disco necktied.
Mad scientist in the garage stuff, talk about the elf bee eye, then sudden silence, well, maybe one of them oil-burning F150s finally caught up with him?
Let’s talk when they get to MW-class lasers. Which the Navy had a program to develop, about a decade ago, but cancelled even though the design process was going well.
Why?
My best guess, office politics.
Just don’t shine it in their eyes. LOL
Cool, or should I say HOT!