American warship downs drones with laser weaponhttps://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/american-warship-downs-drones-with-laser/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.
Lockheed Martin chief executive Jim Taiclet said the demonstration showed how lasers could provide a practical alternative to traditional missile-based defences for close-range threats. He described the system as having successfully knocked incoming uncrewed aircraft out of the sky, highlighting the potential to conserve expensive interceptor missiles for higher-end targets.
“Speaking of amazing technology, we successfully used the shipboard laser system, Lockheed Martin’s Helios, to knock an incoming UAV right out of the sky. The Helios weapon system successfully neutralised four drone threats in a US Navy-operated counter-UAS drone demonstration at sea, showcasing an opportunity to eliminate drone attacks using lasers and saving US and allied air defence missiles for more advanced threats.
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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. ...
FWIW, USS Preble is Flight IIA. Several Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers have been commissioned or are undergoing pre-commissioning trials. IOW, HELIOS systems could, potentially, be installed on at least half of current Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. If I understand correctly, the system works by blinding sensors and/or heat-killing drones' control and/or structural components.
