The US Department of Defense begins testing the most powerful combat laser to date – HELSI units with power up to 300 kW developed by Lockheed Martin. The transfer of the laser to the military was reported a few days ago.
The development of the laser was carried out with 2019 years under the IFPC program, involving the development of means of protecting objects from missiles, shells and mortars. At the heart of the installation, developed by Lockheed Martin for the US Army, fiber laser with spectral alignment technology, in which several low-power laser beams are combined in a special device, resulting in a beam of higher power. Multiple lasers, combined together according to this technology and should make up an installation with a capacity of up to 300 kW. At least, as previously stated.
Now, based on the transferred laser, the military will create a demonstration installation IFPC-HEL, which will be involved in field trials. The installation should be completed by the end of this year..
As noted, new laser five times more powerful than US Navy HELIOS lasers (High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance system) sea-based with a capacity of 60 kW, designed to destroy drones. In August of this year, it was reported about the installation of a combat laser on the first ship of the US Navy.. It turned out to be the US Navy destroyer USS Preble of the Arleigh Burke class.. This is the first ship, equipped with HELIOS, integrated into the Aegis combat system.
The American company Dynetics is also developing a combat laser., received a contract to create a combat laser with a power of 100 kW for the needs of the American army. laser project, hosted on FMTV (6x6 medium tactical truck), implemented as part of the HEL TVD program (high-energy laser weapons on a vehicle).
