US Navy Shows Off Powerful Laser Weapon That Can Destroy Drones
In a show of incredible military tech, the US Navy has tested a powerful new laser weapon called HELIOS. A photo of this weapon being fired from the USS Preble destroyer has gone viral online.
What is HELIOS?
HELIOS stands for High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance. It’s a 60-kilowatt laser weapon, made by Lockheed Martin, that can hit targets at the speed of light. It has a unique feature: it can both destroy targets completely ([[hard kill]]) and disable their electronics ([[soft kill]]). This makes it very versatile against many different threats.
The Test and Its Significance
The US Navy wanted to see how well HELIOS worked against a [[drone]] target. The test was a success, showing how effective this technology can be. This comes after the UK successfully tested its own laser weapon, DragonFire, last year.
Other Countries Developing Laser Weapons
Many countries are investing in laser weapon technology. South Korea, for example, has its own “StarWars Project” to create laser weapons for shooting down drones. They say it’s a very effective and low-cost defense system.
The UK’s DragonFire
The UK’s DragonFire laser weapon can destroy drones from miles away. It is a more affordable option compared to [[missiles]] and is precise enough to hit a small coin from a kilometer away. The UK plans to use DragonFire in both its Army and Navy.
The Future of Laser Weapons
With successful tests like these, laser weapons are becoming a game-changer in [[defense technology]]. They offer speed, precision, and a lower cost per use compared to traditional weapons. It’s likely we’ll see more advancements and deployment of these powerful systems in the future.
