US Navy Demonstrates Laser Technology by Successfully Targeting Drone with HELIOS; Image Released.

The USS Preble (DDG-88) has become the first destroyer in the US Navy to be outfitted with a laser weapon, successfully conducting a test of its high-energy laser weapon system against an approaching drone.

This test, involving the High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS), reportedly occurred during fiscal year 2024, as indicated in the Pentagon’s annual Director, Operational Test, and Evaluation (DOTE) report.

The DOTE report stated that the purpose of the test was to “verify and validate the functionality, performance, and capability” of the HELIOS system.

An image from the evaluation test has circulated widely on social media, although the report did not disclose specific details such as the exact date or location of the HELIOS test.

On October 12, 2024, the USS Preble, equipped with the advanced HELIOS laser weapon system, was forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. It joined a select group of destroyers within the US Seventh Fleet, which is responsible for ensuring maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. This deployment underscores the growing significance of directed energy weapons, particularly laser systems.

At the time of its deployment in Japan, it was reported that the USS Preble would be testing its High-Energy Laser with an Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system.

However, the US Navy has not confirmed whether any HELIOS tests were actually carried out in the Indo-Pacific region. It is important to note that the USS Preble is the only one among the 73 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in the US Navy that is outfitted with a high-energy laser weapon.

This latest test is particularly noteworthy given the recent surge in small aerial threats, such as kamikaze drones and loitering munitions, which have become increasingly widespread worldwide. These threats are now readily available to both state and non-state actors, as evidenced by recent operations in the Red Sea where US Navy vessels were engaged in counter-drone missions.

Lasers are especially effective against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) due to their ability to concentrate energy and rapidly heat the drone’s structure. This can lead to catastrophic failures, such as the loss of a wing on a fixed-wing drone.

Laser technology is increasingly becoming a key component of defense strategies globally, offering a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional missile interceptors, which can be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming to produce.

There are indications that China is also pursuing the development of high-energy laser systems for its destroyers. Last year, images surfaced on social media showing the Type-071 Amphibious Assault Ship of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) equipped with laser technology, suggesting ongoing testing of the system.

It is anticipated that once experimental testing is completed, these laser weapons could be integrated into the Type 075 and Type 055 vessels, which serve as the backbone of the formidable PLA Navy.

The development of laser-based weapon systems in China, similar to many military technologies, is largely shrouded in secrecy. This has generated a heightened sense of urgency within the United States, prompting the Pentagon to prioritize the deployment of laser weapons across various branches, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

HELIOS: The US Navy’s Future Defense Against Drones

The High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) is a laser system exceeding 60 kW, developed by Lockheed Martin. The contract for its production was awarded in 2018, with the US Navy receiving the system in 2022.

Lockheed Martin has emphasized that the HELIOS system, designed to be multi-functional and expandable, will provide essential laser weapon capabilities as part of a comprehensive layered defense strategy. Additionally, HELIOS can be upgraded to deliver power levels between 120 kW and 150 kW, with the Navy anticipating the acquisition of another system within this power range.

As a High-Energy Laser weapon, HELIOS is a substantial, stationary energy system featuring a directed energy array. It is mounted on the main forward pedestal of the USS Preble, which previously accommodated the Mk 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) on earlier Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

The system generates substantial energy to excite photons, which are then directed towards a specific target, likely a drone or missile. This results in a localized heating effect on the target until it ignites. The energy beam remains invisible, and the operation is nearly silent. The only visible signs of engagement are the sparks and flames that appear from the target.

Utilizing laser weapons significantly reduces the potential for casualties, as there is no transfer of momentum, shock waves, or high-speed debris, unlike traditional kinetic weapons. Additionally, the immediate travel time of high-energy laser beams ensures that the target cannot initiate an attack first.

This technology is particularly effective when integrated with the Aegis Combat System. Jeanine Matthews, a Lockheed executive, stated in 2022: “What’s interesting about HELIOS is that it’s not simply a standalone system — [it has] the initial pieces of integration to Aegis, and the next steps would be to make it one of the selections in the weapon system component of Aegis so that you could use [it].”

Beyond neutralizing targets, HELIOS can function as a “dazzler,” disorienting or blinding the optical seekers of incoming drones and missiles. This capability can hinder an adversary’s situational awareness by obstructing their sensors from tracking the ship. Furthermore, the onboard optical sensors of HELIOS can be employed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations.

However, high-energy laser weapons are not without their limitations. The components of these systems are delicate and are continually being enhanced for military applications, and their effective range can be limited and influenced by atmospheric conditions.