US Navy Deploys HELIOS Laser to Neutralize Drones
The US Navy has successfully demonstrated the use of a ship-mounted laser weapon to destroy multiple drones, highlighting advances in maritime counter-UAS capabilities.
During a recent at-sea demonstration, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Preble employed Lockheed Martin’s High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance system (HELIOS) to engage and neutralize four unmanned aerial vehicles. The event was conducted as part of a Navy counter-UAS exercise and publicly disclosed in Lockheed Martin’s latest financial update.
Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet emphasized that HELIOS offers a practical alternative to traditional missile-based defenses for short-range threats. He stated the system successfully knocked UAVs out of the sky, potentially conserving interceptor missiles for higher-end targets.
HELIOS, a roughly 60-kilowatt class laser integrated with the Aegis Combat System, allows operators to perform both soft-kill and hard-kill engagements. Soft-kill functions include dazzling or degrading optical sensors, while hard-kill capabilities involve heating and damaging the structure of targets. Installed on the USS Preble, a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, HELIOS can operate alongside conventional radar, sensors, and weapons.
This demonstration is part of Lockheed Martin’s broader support for Homeland Defense initiatives, including efforts under the Golden Dome program. The system also benefits from ongoing prototyping and command-and-control integration work at the company’s Center for Innovation in Virginia.
Experts note that integrating laser weapons like HELIOS into frontline naval vessels could significantly enhance US Navy defensive operations against increasingly sophisticated drone threats. As unmanned aerial vehicles become more prevalent in regional conflicts and surveillance operations, ship-mounted lasers offer rapid, cost-effective engagement options.
