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One lucky destroyer crew will officially be the first to rock the Navy's newest laser weapon
Task & Purpose ^ | 28 May 2019 | William Cole

Posted on 06/03/2019 1:00:01 AM PDT by Windflier

The Pearl Harbor-based USS Preble will be the first destroyer to be equipped with a high-energy laser to counter surface craft and unmanned aerial systems, according to a published report, with the Navy planning to one day use the powerful light beams to defend against Chinese or Russian cruise missiles.

Rear Adm. Ronald Boxall, the Navy's director of surface warfare, told Defense News that the Preble will be outfitted in 2021 with the High Energy Laser and Integrated Optical- dazzler With Surveillance system, or HELIOS.

"We are making the decision to put the laser on our (destroyers)," Boxall said. "It's going to start with Preble in 2021, and when we do that, that will now be her close-in weapon that we now continue to upgrade," according to Defense News.

The Phalanx close-in weapon system is used now to defend against airborne threats by spitting out a stream of projectiles from its automated 20 mm Gatling gun.

The Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $150 million contract in 2018, with options worth up to $943 million, for the development of two high-power laser systems for testing on a destroyer and on land.

With the HELIOS system, Lockheed Martin said it will "help the Navy take a major step forward in its goal to field a laser weapon system aboard surface ships."

The Congressional Research Service said in a May report that the Navy is developing three new ship-based weapons: solid-state lasers, an electromagnetic railgun and a gun-launched guided projectile that "could substantially improve" the ability of Navy surface ships to defend against surface craft, unmanned aerial vehicles and, eventually, anti-ship cruise missiles.

"Any one of these new weapons, if successfully developed and deployed, might be regarded as a 'game changer' for defending Navy surface ships" against enemy missiles, the report states.


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: lasers; military; usn; weapons
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1 posted on 06/03/2019 1:00:01 AM PDT by Windflier
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To: Windflier

The image is an artist’s conception.


2 posted on 06/03/2019 1:01:16 AM PDT by Windflier (Pitchforks and torches ripen on the vine. Left too long, they become black rifles.)
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To: Windflier
Hmmmm. I kind of think they should have started by putting the lasers on sharks, and then worked their way up to destroyers.
 
3 posted on 06/03/2019 1:19:52 AM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie (September 11, 2001 : Never forget, never forgive.)
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To: Windflier

Another major reason President Trump MUST WIN reelection!


4 posted on 06/03/2019 1:20:24 AM PDT by onyx
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To: onyx

.....Like the “Fazers” in the original Star Trek”!!


5 posted on 06/03/2019 1:50:54 AM PDT by LiveFreeOrDie2001 (God Bless President Trump!)
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To: Windflier

That thing could put your eye out!


6 posted on 06/03/2019 2:14:49 AM PDT by ImNotLying (The Constitution is an instrument for the people to restrain the government...Patrick Henry)
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To: Windflier

7 posted on 06/03/2019 2:45:44 AM PDT by Yo-Yo ( is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
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To: Windflier

I’d be interested in knowing the time on target to destroy.


8 posted on 06/03/2019 2:52:13 AM PDT by Vinnie
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To: Vinnie

I am going to guess that is going to remain classified, because revealing that would say much about the power and type of laser used.

But then again, classified material may not amount to a cup of warm spit in today’s world where people at high levels seem to be able to ignore at will with no repercussions.


9 posted on 06/03/2019 3:55:37 AM PDT by rlmorel (Trump to China: This Capitalist Will Not Sell You the Rope with Which You Will Hang Us.)
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To: Windflier

At least it’s not a rainbow.


10 posted on 06/03/2019 4:49:01 AM PDT by bramps (It's the Islam, stupid!)
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To: Windflier

11 posted on 06/03/2019 4:54:54 AM PDT by COBOL2Java (AOC: The brain of a tea bisquit)
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To: bramps

This has been a long time coming.

DOD RDT&E has been working on the concept from the middle 1970’s. It is no “breakthrough” but a long, hard, incremental set of improvements over decades that got us to this point.

I first supported a test where a laser shot down a helicopter (proof of concept) in 1976.


12 posted on 06/03/2019 4:54:57 AM PDT by marktwain (President Trump and his supporters are the Resistance. His opponents are the Reactionaries.)
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To: ImNotLying
That thing could put your eye out! ... and most of the rest of your body along with it.
13 posted on 06/03/2019 4:57:40 AM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the peopIe to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: Windflier

So now we have to encase missiles and aircraft with mirrors? Because the “enemies” will have these soon enough.

All kidding aside, this is very cool. Or hot...

We’ve come a long way from throwing rocks at each other.


14 posted on 06/03/2019 4:57:48 AM PDT by Vermont Lt (If we get Medicare for all, will we have to show IDs for service?)
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To: Vermont Lt
We’ve come a long way from throwing rocks at each other.

This represents the ultimate in high velocity, low mass projectiles.

15 posted on 06/03/2019 4:59:39 AM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the peopIe to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: Vinnie

I wouldn’t want to be on the ship that is the target for one of those Iranian Sunburns with only this laser to intercept the missile.


16 posted on 06/03/2019 5:03:27 AM PDT by VietVet876
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To: Vermont Lt

Mirrored armor doesn’t actually work against high powered lasers in atmosphere.


17 posted on 06/03/2019 5:09:02 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Windflier

Well I’m impressed that the laser is able to take out a drone. But i’m Really interested with how good it is at taking out waves of Anti-Ship missiles.

I’ll celebrate after I see a successful defense against those missiles.


18 posted on 06/03/2019 5:22:42 AM PDT by puppypusher ( The world is going to the dogs.)
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To: Spktyr

I was joking. I am sure many of us have spent time polishing stuff that doesn’t stop bullets!


19 posted on 06/03/2019 5:50:18 AM PDT by Vermont Lt (If we get Medicare for all, will we have to show IDs for service?)
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To: VietVet876
I wouldn’t want to be on the ship that is the target for one of those Iranian Sunburns with only this laser to intercept the missile.

Can it intercept 10 Sunburns?

20 posted on 06/03/2019 5:53:15 AM PDT by BlackbirdSST (Is it time Claire?)
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