US Army receives most powerful laser for its weapon system

News, US September 19, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin has delivered the Department of Defense a most powerful and tactically-relevant electric 300 kW-class laser.

The 300 kW-class is the highest-powered laser that can be integrated with the U.S. Army’s Indirect Fires Protection Capability-High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL) Demonstrator laser weapon system.

U.S. Department of Defense Research & Engineering office selected Lockheed Martin in 2019 to scale its spectral beam combined high energy laser architecture to the 300 kW-class level as part of the High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative (HELSI).

According to the Lockheed Martin statement, the company achieved the milestone ahead of schedule and the HELSI laser is ready to support the U.S. Army’s demonstration efforts with its IFPC-HEL, which is scheduled for laboratory and field testing later this year.

Lockheed Martin Advanced Product Solutions Vice President Rick Cordaro said that the company has “increased the power and efficiency and reduced the weight and volume of continuous-wave high energy lasers which reduces risk for future fielding efforts of high power laser weapon systems.”

“This recent HELSI delivery milestone also exemplifies Lockheed Martin’s commitment to 21st Century Security, developing advanced technologies that provide speed, agility, and mission solutions that help ensure the U.S. and its allies are always prepared for what’s ahead,” the statement highlighted.

*^{A rendering of Lockheed Martin’s 60-kilowatt laser mounted to a U.S. army truck. The laser beam would not be visible in real life. (Image Credit: Lockheed Martin)}*

The milestone was achieved by the company’s team in Washington state and Owego, New York. “The 300 kW-class high-energy laser design and build was enabled by significant investments in directed energy technology,” Lockheed Martin’s statement added.

Laser Weapon Systems have the capability to successfully track and detect targets, including small rockets, boats, drones, UAVs, and a truck with high fidelity. It can maintain the laser beam with enough time to eliminate the target. Directed Energy can operate as an effective weapon that can enable the warfighter to counter and eliminate a range of emerging threats.