It is reported that the US Navy will install the “high-energy laser pointer and integrated optical dazzling and surveillance” weapon system on the “Arleigh Burke” Type IIA destroyer in 2021. Last year, Lockheed Martin won a $150 million contract to develop two systems, one for shore surveys and the second to be equipped with naval destroyers. According to the U.S. Navy’s “Navy Surface Shipborne Laser Weapon System” Increment 1 project, the Navy planned to complete the installation in 2020.
The power of the navy system is about 60 kilowatts, which is higher than the output power of the laser weapon system tested by the navy on the forward floating base of the “Ponce” five years ago. The combat targets are fast attack boats and small drones. It will be used to test the integration between laser weapons and the “Aegis” combat system, and will also provide ships with more accurate target indication data.
The US Air Force Research Laboratory established the Air Force’s first high-energy green laser pointer weapon system overseas for a 12-month field evaluation. The Office of Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation of the Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio is leading the project.
Dr. Michael Kyrgyz, Director of Basic Defense Experiments, Office of Strategic Development Planning and Experiments, said: “During the field assessment, the commander receiving combatants will use the system as a combat asset against small UAV systems.”
During the 12-month field evaluation, the Air Force will evaluate five systems. At the time, General Stephen Wilson, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, asked the Air Force to test directed energy systems in an effort to transform the game-changing capabilities into fighters.