The US Navy's fiscal year 2023 budget supports execution of at-sea testing following the successful completion and installation of Mk 5 Mod 0 High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS). (US Navy)
The US Navy (USN) proposed fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget requests of USD35.3 million for the Navy Laser Family of Systems (NLFoS), which is designated as “an accelerated acquisition initiative to provide near-term, ship-based laser weapon capabilities”, according to USN budget documents released on 14 April.
“The NLFoS efforts form the foundation of an incremental strategy for increased laser weapon capability as it is matured. NLFoS includes the Surface Navy Laser Weapon System (SNLWS) and the Solid-State Laser Technology Maturation (SSL-TM),” the USN said in the documents.
SNLWS addresses anti-surface warfare and counter-intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C-ISR) gaps with the ability to dazzle and destroy unmanned aerial systems (UASs) and defeat fast inshore attack craft (FIAC), the navy notes.
SNLWS includes the development of an advanced prototype laser weapon system in the 60 kW or higher class.
“The FY 2023 budget supports execution of at-sea testing following the successful completion and installation of Mk 5 Mod 0 High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) on DDG 88, USS Preble,” the navy said.
“SSL-TM will develop an advanced 100 kW High Energy Laser (HEL) weapon demonstrator that supported laser development with system capability demonstrations on LPD 27, USS Portland,” the navy added. “The FY 2023 budget supports Laser Weapons System Demonstrator de-installation and hardware disposition after equipment is removed from LPD 27, USS Portland.”
HELIOS laser system components are being prepped and shipped from Wallops Island, Virginia, to San Diego, California, to be integrated in Preble
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