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.
“Hmmmm. I kind of think they should have started by putting the lasers on sharks, and then worked their way up to destroyers.”
Or ill tempered sea bass.
“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.”
That is going to require a boatload of electricity.
I think that is why they have other weapons.
That is going to require a boatload of electricity.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
One point twenty one jigawatts.
You just wait till your father gets home!
Alright! Dis integrator rays! Just last night I was watching’’The Day The Earth Stood Still’’ with Michael Rennie . Now we have our own ‘’Gort’’!
Did you know that the actor who played "Gort" was named Lockheed Lockard Martin?
Really? Didn’t know that. I did know that suit he was in took a lot of getting into and the actor was a professional wrestler and body builder type. He had to be. That whole get up was kind of bulky. “Klaatu barrada nikto!’’
One unfortunate ship’s command crew to take all the blame when the over priced system fails to live up to expectations.
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