The U.S. navy will install the HELIOS weapon system on the arleigh burke IIA in 2021.
Last year, lockheed Martin won a $150 million contract to develop two HELIOS systems, one for onshore testing and the second to equip navy destroyers. Under the navy’s navy surface shipboard lasaer pointer weapon system increment 1 program, the navy had planned to complete the installation by 2020.
The navy’s HELIOS system, at about 60 kilowatts, is more powerful than the lasaer pointerweapon system the navy tested five years ago on the Ponce’s forward floating base, targeting fast attack boats and small drones.
HELIOS will be used to test the integration of laser weapons with aegis combat systems. It will also provide ships with more accurate targeting data.