US Navy successfully tests HELIOS laser weapon: Here’s all about it

The US Navy has successfully tested a laser weapon called the High-Energy Laser with an Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system from one of its warships.Published in the US Center for Countermeasures’ annual report, an incredible photo showing firing off a drone-destroying laser is going viral on the internet. The undated image captured warfighting laser technology being launched from the USS Preble in the middle of the ocean.

It aimed “to verify and validate the functionality, performance, and capability of the HEL with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance system against an unmanned aerial vehicle target”, the report added. No other information regarding the department’s test and evaluation has been disclosed.

All about HELIOS laser weaponThe 2024 test is a significant step in Washington’s efforts to deploy low-cost laser weapons to combat emerging threats. According to reports, the experiment was conducted aboard the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Preble. This follows the test of its own laser weapon, DragonFire, against aerial targets in 2024, which reportedly destroyed incoming drones from several miles away.

Developed for the US by Lockheed Martin, the HELIOS (High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance) uses a 60-kilowatt high-energy laser. This high-powered laser weapon is designed to neutralise threats, including fast attack boats, drones and missiles. It has two different modes of attack: hard kill and soft kill.Hard kill means that the weapon can physically destroy its targets, while soft kill permits it to disrupt the electrical components of hostile threats, disabling communication with its operators.

Lockheed Martin said, “The HELIOS system’s deep magazine, low cost per kill, speed of light delivery, and precision response enable it to address fleet needs now. And its mature, scalable architecture supports increased laser power levels to counter additional threats in the future.”

At present, the weapon can generate more than 60 kilowatts of directed energy, with potential upgrades to 120 kilowatts.

Despite the test’s success, the Navy has encountered significant challenges in developing laser weapons, including issues in power supply, environmental factors and integration with existing systems.

As a result of HELIOS’s effectiveness, the US Navy is anticipated to increase its directed-energy weapon programs.

Many other countries, like the UK, South Korea, Israel, Turkey, Germany and Japan, have also created laser weapons.