Video: U.S. Navy successfully tests ship-to-ship HEL laser

by Steven Mostyn - Apr 11 2011, 13:26

Whether dealing with cannonballs, artillery shells, or missiles, the art of naval warfare has always been a case of lobbing heavy ordnance at a distant ship and hoping for the best.

However, the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR) and Northrop Grumman are looking to completely change the tide (cough) of future sea battles following the successful test firing of a powerful ship-to-ship laser system.

The new high-energy laser (HEL) was fired from former U.S. warship USS Paul Foster (DD 964) just off the coast of California in the Pacific Ocean test range on April 6, setting fire to a small and crewless twin-engine motor boat rolling in nearby choppy water.

“This is the first time a HEL, at these power levels, has been put on a navy ship, powered from that ship and used to defeat a target at range in a maritime environment,” said Peter Morrison, program officer for the ONR.

According to the ONR, the HEL platform struck its target by working in conjunction with the host ship’s radar and navigation systems.

In terms of future application, laser systems such as the HEL platform could well be brought into service to quickly neutralize small and nimble seafaring attack craft.

Previous military tests attributed to HEL technology have seen it used to shoot down fast-moving missiles and hit distant land-based targets—using it at sea has been a problem until now due to high levels of moisture, which have always disintegrated beam strength.

Although weaponized lasers are only likely to appear on military vessels, it is thought that a weaker variant capable of ‘temporarily blinding’ onrushing pirates could be used to protect merchant ships from opportunistic raiding parties.

While the technology may appear to be cutting edge, various sections of the U.S. military have been pursuing the development of laser-based weaponry for around 40 years.

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