The February demonstration marked the primary time the U.S. Navy used an all-electric, high-energy laser weapon to defeat a goal representing a subsonic cruise missile in flight.
Referred to as the Layered Laser Protection (LLD), the weapon was designed and constructed by Lockheed Martin to function a multi-domain, multi-platform demonstration system. It could possibly counter unmanned aerial techniques and fast-attack boats with a high-power laser—and in addition use its high-resolution telescope to trace in-bound air threats, help fight identification and conduct battle injury evaluation of engaged targets.
The drone shoot-down by the LLD was a part of a current check sponsored by the Workplace of Naval Analysis (ONR) on the U.S. Army’s Excessive Power Laser Techniques Take a look at Facility at White Sands Missile Vary in New Mexico. The demonstration was a partnership between ONR, the Workplace of the Underneath Secretary of Protection (Analysis and Engineering) and Lockheed Martin.
“Revolutionary laser techniques just like the LLD have the potential to redefine the way forward for naval fight operations,” stated Chief of Naval Analysis Rear Adm. Lorin C. Selby. “They current transformational capabilities to the fleet, deal with numerous threats, and supply precision engagements with a deep journal to enhance current defensive techniques and improve sustained lethality in high-intensity battle.”
The LLD testing helps a broader effort by the naval analysis and growth neighborhood, partnered intently with the fleet, to mature applied sciences and area a household of laser weapons that may deal with a number of threats utilizing a spread of escalating choices. These capabilities vary from non-lethal measures, reminiscent of optical “dazzling” and disabling of sensors, to destruction of a goal.
Laser weapons present new precision and velocity of engagement for naval warfighters. In addition they supply simplified logistics which can be safer for ships and their crews, as lasers are usually not depending on the normal propellants or gunpowder-based ordnance discovered on ships.
As an alternative, fashionable high-power lasers run on electrical energy, making them inherently safer and in a position to present weapon functionality so long as a ship has energy. This additionally means the price per engagement for a laser weapon could be very low, for the reason that solely consumable merchandise expended is gas to run the system.
For years, the Division of Protection (DoD) and all of the Companies have acknowledged the promise of directed-energy weapons reminiscent of lasers, and proceed to prioritize analysis. Just lately, the Underneath Secretary of Protection for Analysis and Engineering, the Hon. Heidi Shyu, re-affirmed that directed power is likely one of the DoD’s vital know-how areas.
ONR performs an vital function in creating applied sciences for laser weapons and has fielded demonstration techniques for operational experimentation. Notably, in 2014 ONR noticed the Laser Weapon System examined efficiently aboard the usPonce within the Persian Gulf. Extra lately, ONR fielded the Laser Weapon System Demonstrator aboard the usPortland in 2021.
Though there’s no plan to area the LLD, it provides a glimpse into the way forward for laser weapons. It’s compact and highly effective, but extra environment friendly than earlier techniques. It has specialised optics to watch a goal and focus laser beams to most impact, whereas additionally incorporating synthetic intelligence to enhance monitoring and concentrating on.
“LLD is an instance of what a really superior laser system can do to defeat vital threats to naval forces,” stated David Kiel, a former Navy captain who’s a program officer in ONR’s Aviation, Power Projection and Built-in Protection Division, which managed the testing. “And now we have ongoing efforts, each at ONR and in different Navy packages, to maintain constructing on these leads to the close to future.”
Throughout the current check at White Sands, the LLD tracked or shot down an array of targets—together with unmanned fixed-wing aerial automobiles, quadcopters and high-speed drones consultant of subsonic cruise missiles.
“We’re proud to say that the Layered Laser Protection system defeated a surrogate cruise missile risk in partnership with the Navy, White Sands Missile Vary and Army Excessive Power Laser Techniques Take a look at Facility groups. Lockheed Martin drew best-in-class laser weapon subsystems from throughout the company, together with key trade associate Rolls Royce, to help the complete risk engagement timeline from goal detection to defeat,” stated Rick Cordaro, vice chairman, Lockheed Martin Superior Product Options. “We leveraged greater than 40 years of directed power expertise to create new capabilities that help the twenty first century warfighter.”
Dr. Frank Peterkin, ONR’s directed power portfolio supervisor, stated, “The Navy carried out comparable exams in the course of the Nineteen Eighties however with chemical-based laser applied sciences that offered vital logistics limitations for fielding in an operational surroundings. And, finally, these sorts of lasers didn’t transition to the fleet or some other Service.
“Right now, ONR coordinates intently with the Navy’s resourcing and acquisition communities to ensure we develop laser weapon applied sciences that make sense for the Navy’s necessities to defend the fleet and for operations within the tough maritime surroundings at sea,” Peterkin continued. “It’s a difficult drawback, however Navy management in any respect ranges see potential for laser weapons to actually make a distinction. The following few years are going to be very thrilling as we work with the Navy and joint companions to make the aptitude we simply noticed demonstrated by the LLD a actuality for the naval warfighter.”
