Navy to install laser weapons on destroyer in 2021 to defend against boats and unmanned vehicles
WASHINGTON – In the next two years, the Navy wants to deploy laser weapons aboard a guided-missile destroyer as the service learns to integrate directed energy weapon systems on warships, the Navy’s director of surface warfare said on Wednesday. USNI News reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
21 March 2019 -- “We are going to burn the boats if you will and move forward with this technology,” Rear Adm. Ron Boxall said during the Booz, Allen, Hamilton and CSBA Directed Energy Summit 2019.
The service is targeting 2021 to install a High Energy Laser and Integrated Optical-dazzler with Surveillance weapon system aboard a West Coast Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA destroyer, Boxall said.
The 60-kilowatt HELIOS, much more powerful than the 20-kilowatt laser weapon system the Navy tested aboard afloat forward staging base USS Ponce five years ago, is designed to counter small attack boats small unmanned aerial vehicles.
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John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
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