DefenceTalkChina has successfully tested a homemade laser defense system specially targeting small-scale drones flying at low attitude. The machine is able to shoot down various small aircraft within a two-kilometer radius and can do so in five seconds after locating its target, said a statement released Sunday by the China Academy of Engineering Physics, one […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-develops-anti-drone-laser-60932/

DefenceTalkBoeing and the U.S. Army have proven the capabilities of the High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator (HEL MD) in maritime conditions, successfully targeting a variety of aerial targets at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. “Under windy, rainy and foggy weather conditions in Florida, these engagements were the most challenging to date with a 10-kilowatt […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-laser-demonstrator-destroys-targets-through-wind-and-fog-60531/

DefenceTalkAs the Navy prepares to deploy its first laser weapon on a ship later this summer, Office of Naval Research (ONR) officials announced June 11 that they have finished awarding contracts to develop a similar weapon to be used on ground vehicles. The Ground-Based Air Defense Directed Energy On-the-Move program, commonly referred to as GBAD, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/laser-weapon-being-readied-for-marine-vehicles-59857/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Army Research Laboratory’s Computational and Information Science Directorate’s Intelligent Optics Team, and partners, recently developed, engineered, demonstrated and delivered the world’s first known working Adaptive Phase Coherent Fiber Laser Array system, which will better enable Soldiers’ directed energy weapons and laser communication systems on the battlefield. The key members of the Intelligent Optics […]https://www.defencetalk.com/army-develops-first-of-its-kind-phase-coherent-fiber-laser-array-system-59844/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a $25 million contract to design, build and test a 60-kilowatt electric laser to be integrated and tested in a truck-mounted weapon system demonstrator. The laser weapon is designed to significantly improve the warfighters’ ability to counter rockets, artillery, mortars and unmanned aerial threats. Under a contract managed […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-to-develop-weapons-grade-fiber-laser-for-us-army-59406/

DefenceTalkNavy engineers are making final adjustments to a laser weapon prototype that will be the first of its kind to deploy aboard a ship late this summer. The prototype, an improved version of the Laser Weapon System (LaWS), will be installed on USS Ponce for at-sea testing in the Persian Gulf, fulfilling plans announced by […]https://www.defencetalk.com/all-systems-go-navys-laser-weapon-ready-for-summer-deployment-59273/

DefenceTalkHigh-energy lasers (HEL) have the potential to benefit a variety of military missions, particularly as weapons or as high-bandwidth communications devices. However, the massive size, weight and power requirements (SWaP) of legacy laser systems limit their use on many military platforms. Even if SWaP limitations can be overcome, turbulence manifested as density fluctuations in the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/excalibur-prototype-extends-reach-of-high-energy-lasers-58970/

DefenceTalkLockheed Martin has demonstrated a 30-kilowatt electric fiber laser, the highest power ever documented while retaining beam quality and electrical efficiency. The internally funded research and development program culminated in this demonstration, which was achieved by combining many fiber lasers into a single, near-perfect quality beam of light—all while using approximately 50 percent less electricity […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-martin-demonstrates-weapons-grade-high-power-fiber-laser-50189/

DefenceTalkNorthrop Grumman has announced an agreement to collaborate with Trex Enterprises Corporation to bring celestial navigation technology to the precision targeting capability provided to the U.S. military and allied forces. Trex Enterprises has developed and matured the core technology for providing a highly accurate celestial navigation subsystem for use in military products and scientific applications. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/northrop-and-trex-enterprises-to-introduce-celestial-navigation-to-soldier-precision-targeting-laser-systems-50091/

DefenceTalkThe US Army has for the first time successfully tested a vehicle-mounted laser that managed to shoot down incoming mortar rounds and drone aircraft, officials said Thursday. Installed in a dome-shaped turret atop a military vehicle, the high-energy laser hit more than 90 mortar bombs and several small unmanned planes over a six-week test at […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-military-reveals-laser-can-down-drones-mortars-49923/