US Navy Lasers

<A href="https://news.usni.org/2024/12/24/report-to-congress-on-navy-shipboard-lasers-9">In 2014, the US Navy installed its first prototype SSL (solid state laser) capable of countering surface craft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on a Navy ship.</a> The Navy since then has been developing and installing additional SSL prototypes with improved capability for countering surface craft and UAVs. Higher-power SSLs being developed by the Navy could have a capability for countering anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs).

Current Navy efforts to develop SSLs include

the Solid State Laser Technology Maturation (SSL-TM) effort;

the Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy (ODIN);

the Surface Navy Laser Weapon System (SNLWS) Increment 1, also known as the high-energy laser with integrated optical dazzler and surveillance (HELIOS); and

the High Energy Laser Counter-ASCM Program (HELCAP)

Optical Dazzler Interdictor Navy (ODIN) systems have been installed on eight Arleigh Burke(DDG-51) class destroyers. The first ODIN installation reportedly was done on the destroyer Dewey (DDG-105) in 2019.

The ODIN system is a laser weapon system that allows a ship to counter unmanned aerial (drones) systems.

SNLWS Increment 1 is called HELIOS, an acronym meaning high-energy laser with integrated optical dazzler and surveillance. The HELIOS effort is focused on rapid development and rapid fielding of a 60 kW-class high-energy laser (with growth potential to 150 kW) and dazzler in an integrated weapon system, for use in countering UAVs, small boats, and ISR sensors, and for combat identification and battle damage assessment.