Lockheed Martin delivers HELIOS laser system to US Navy

14 Jan 2021

US Navy has recently demonstrated above 60kW output power based on multiple kilowatt fiber lasers.

This year, the U.S. Navy is scheduled to field the first acquisition program to deploy the High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance, or HELIOS – a laser weapon system with high-energy fiber lasers intended for permanent fielding by the U.S. Department of Defense.

This will be the only deployed laser system integrated into an operational Flight IIA DDG (destroyer, guided missile). This follows Lockheed Martin and the US Navy’s recent demonstration of full laser power in excess of the 60 kW requirement.

The scalable laser design architecture spectrally combines multiple kilowatt fiber lasers to attain high beam quality at various power levels.

'Operationally effective laser weapon'

Lockheed Martin completed the Critical Design Review and Navy Factory Qualification Test milestones in 2020, demonstrating the value of system engineering rigor and proven Aegis system integration and test processes on the way to delivering operationally effective and suitable laser weapon system that meets the Navy’s mission requirements.

Lockheed Martin Directed Energy solutions are said to provide a proven, affordable, scalable, multi-mission capability and weapon architecture with advanced beam control and innovative fiber lasers that support size, weight and power constraints for air, sea and land platforms.

Lockheed Martin is advancing and demonstrating a range of technologies to position laser weapon systems for success on the battlefield and at-sea on a variety of platforms.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, the company is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 110,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research and development of advanced technology systems, products and services.