Giant US aerospace and defence group Lockheed Martin has reported that it has delivered a tactical laser weapon to the US Navy, for installation on one of the latter’s destroyers. The laser, designated ‘Helios’ (for High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance) has a maximum power exceeding 60 kW.

The Helios unit, specialist US media report, is most likely to be mounted on the USS Preble, a ‘Flight’ (Batch, or Iteration) IIA Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer. The Helios can be used on high power, to destroy targets; on low power, to dazzle hostile sensors; or for surveillance purposes. Reportedly, it is mainly intended to counter uncrewed air vehicles (‘drones’) and uncrewed surface vessels. On the USS Preble, it will replace a 20 mm ‘close-in weapons system’ anti-missile gun.

“Lockheed Martin and the US Navy share a common vision and enthusiasm for developing and providing disruptive laser weapon systems,” affirmed Lockheed Martin Advanced Product Solutions VP Rick Cordaro. “Helios enhances the overall combat system effectiveness of the ship to deter future threats and provide additional protection for sailors, and we understand we must provide scalable solutions customised to the Navy’s priorities. Helios represents a solid foundation for incremental delivery of robust and powerful laser system capabilities.”

The Helios is intended to provide an extra layer of defence for warships. Because a laser beam, by definition, travels at the speed of light, it has an incredibly fast response time. It is also extremely precise. As it fires or launches no projectiles, it can never run out of ammunition. And of course, there are no munitions that need to be bought, transported, stored and embarked, meaning that a laser is a low-cost-per-kill weapon system.

The contract to develop Helios was awarded to the company in January 2018. Before the system was handed over to the US Navy, it underwent range testing. Reportedly, the Helios can be scaled up to 120 kW with only minor modifications. Lockheed Martin believes that power levels in the 60 kW to 120 kW range would allow the Helios to destroy anti-ship cruise missiles.