The US Navy has tested, for the first time, a laser weapon capable of shooting down flying drones and airplanes, albeit for demonstration purposes only. Until now, many questions had been left in the air as to whether laser-based weaponry would ever become an effective tool in warfare. The official images of the test have more than responded to some of them.
Installed aboard USS Portland, the 150 kilowatt Solid State Laser Weapons System Demonstrator (LWSD) was used to successfully shoot down an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on May 16, 2020, in what was the first use of this laser beam weapon, redefining the scene of what war at sea would be like today.
“By conducting advanced tests at sea against UAVs and small vessels, we will gain valuable insight into the capabilities of the Solid State Laser Weapon System Demonstrator against potential threats ,” said the US Navy Capt. ., Karrey Sanders, the commander of the leading ship of the historic launch.
The US Navy revealed that its ships have faced a growing number of threats “including unmanned aerial vehicles, small armed vessels, and adversary intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.” To address these problems, it has been developing Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) since the 1960s.
DEWs include lasers and are defined as electromagnetic systems capable of converting chemical or electrical energy into radiated energy to degrade, neutralize, defeat, or destroy an enemy target.
“The Solid State Laser Weapon System Demonstrator is a unique tool that Portland can test and operate for the Navy paving the way for future weapons systems,” continued Sanders. “With this new advanced capability, we are redefining war at sea for the Navy.”
The Navy has previously used other laser weapon systems on its ships, including its 30-kilowatt Laser Weapon System (LaWS) aboard the USS Ponce.
The Navy hopes that the laser cannons can defend the fleet from drones and even long-range missiles sent by rivals like China, which can outpace the planes and missiles of a US carrier strike group. While the missiles on board would be outnumbered by those coming from a ground bombardment, laser weapons could allow for unlimited ammunition, thus eliminating the danger of being outgunned.
Developed by Northrup Grumman, the LWSD is intended for installation on Navy amphibious ships and is part of a wide range of laser weapons that the US military hopes to deploy in the near future. The US Office of Naval Research awarded Northrup Grumman an initial $ 53 million contract in 2015 to develop the 150-kilowatt LWSD.
In addition, the US Army is developing its own laser weapon, the Indirect Fire Protection Capable High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL), which is expected to reach 300 kilowatts and intercept rockets, artillery and mortars.
