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Navy’s Laser Weapon: A New Era of Naval Warfare Has Arrived
The future of naval combat is here, and it’s shining a bright, powerful light. The US Navy has officially deployed its first operational laser weapon, the Helios, marking a Great Leap Forward in military technology comparable to the invention of gunpowder and machine guns. This isn’t science fiction anymore; it’s a reality changing the face of naval warfare forever.
Currently operational on the guided missile destroyer USS Preble, the Helios is a high-energy laser with integrated optical dazzler and surveillance capabilities. Interestingly, the Helios found its home on the forward Sea Whiz mount, a space that remained empty on many non-ballistic missile defense capable Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. This placement is strategic, primarily due to the immense power requirements of the Helios. While the Sea Whiz in tracking mode can draw up to 70 kW, the Helios, with its current output of 60 kW and potential to scale to 120 kW, slots right into an existing power infrastructure, showcasing some impressive foresight in the ship’s original design.
Don’t let its relatively small size fool you. The Helios, appearing about half the size of the Sea Whiz, packs a serious punch. It features a main laser emitter along with tracking and targeting modules. While the exact functions of the two circular screens aren’t officially disclosed, it’s inferred that the smaller one handles tracking, requiring less energy, and the larger one manages the energy-intensive targeting process.
Beyond its hard-kill capabilities, the Helios boasts a laser dazzler, a non-lethal defense measure akin to a powerful laser pointer. This can be used to deter threats or make them stop, a significant upgrade from current portable dazzlers. Furthermore, the Helios provides a much-needed dedicated surveillance capability. Unlike current destroyers that rely on the 5-inch gun camera for surveillance, the Helios is equipped with high-definition, thermal, and night vision cameras.
Recent media reports confirm the Helios’s effectiveness. In a classified live-fire demonstration in the Western Pacific, the USS Preble successfully shot down an incoming hostile drone, proving its hard-kill capability even at 60 kW. Subsequent tests showcased its soft-kill abilities, demonstrating its potential to neutralize threats by knocking out their sensors. The Navy believes Helios can engage unmanned small boats and other aerial targets like drones.
The deployment of Helios comes at a crucial time. Recent events in the Middle East have highlighted the need for a cost-effective solution against lower-priority threats like drones and subsonic missiles. The Navy has been spending millions on SM-2 missiles to intercept relatively inexpensive drones. The Helios offers a game-changing alternative, with no need to be reloaded and the ability to engage targets in seconds, as long as there’s a stable power source. This is particularly important against swarms of fast attack craft and drones that could overwhelm a ship’s defenses.
While power demands from other ship systems like the Spy radar remain a challenge, the Navy is actively working with defense partners to develop more powerful generators for future destroyers. These advancements will allow the Helios to operate reliably at its full potential, even potentially engaging ballistic missiles with a 120 kW beam.
The Helios is not just another weapon; it represents a paradigm shift in naval warfare. Its ability to conduct hard kills, soft kills, dazzling, and surveillance simultaneously, coupled with its cost-effectiveness against certain threats, makes it an indispensable asset for the US Navy. The age of laser weapons at sea is officially underway.
Tags: US Navy, Helios, laser weapon, naval warfare, USS Preble, military technology, directed energy weapons, drone defense, sea whiz, surveillance, laser dazzler, cost-effective defense