US to integrate HELIOS tactical laser weapon system into Navy fleet

News, US August 19, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. Navy plans to integrate the first tactical laser weapon system High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) into ships and provide directed energy capability to the fleet.

American defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin announced on August 18 that the company has delivered a 60+ kW-class HELIOS weapon system to the United States Navy.

“Integrated and scalable by design, the multi-mission HELIOS system will provide tactically relevant laser weapon system warfighting capability as a key element of a layered defense architecture,” the Lockheed Martin statement read.

Vice president of Lockheed Martin Advanced Product Solutions Rick Cordaro said, “Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy share a common vision and enthusiasm for developing and providing disruptive laser weapon systems.”

“HELIOS enhances the overall combat system effectiveness of the ship to deter future threats and provide additional protection for Sailors, and we understand we must provide scalable solutions customized to the Navy’s priorities. HELIOS represents a solid foundation for incremental delivery of robust and powerful laser weapon system capabilities,” Cordaro added.

HELIOS has a scalable laser design architecture that spectrally combines multiple kilowatt fiber lasers to attain high beam quality at various power levels.

*^{High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system. (Image Credit: Lockheed Martin)}*

According to Lockheed Martin, HELIOS offers an additional layer of protection for the fleet with its deep magazine, low-cost per kill, speed of light delivery and precision response.

HELIOS will be initially integrated into an operational West Coast-based Arleigh Burke Flight IIA destroyer with the Aegis Combat System. The laser weapon system is also adaptable to other ship types and combat systems, such as aircraft carriers and big-deck amphibious with the Ship Self-Defense System.

Earlier in December last year, U.S. Navy carried out a test of laser weapons from the amphibious transport dock USS Portland that fired at the stationary floating targets in the Gulf of Aden. The Laser Weapons System is not only effective against destroying the done boats but also jamming the signal receiver in order to cut the remote communication.