What happened
The head of the US Navy, Adm. Daryl Caudle, believes that high-energy lasers will play a crucial role in the future of naval defense. The Navy has been exploring the use of lasers as a way to reduce its reliance on expensive air defense munitions. Adm. Caudle thinks that lasers could help shift the defensive burden from finite missile magazines to electrical power, improving the cost exchange against drones and other low-cost threats.
The Navy currently relies on the Standard Missile-3 and Standard Missile-6 missiles, which are finite and can be emptied in a high-intensity conflict. In contrast, a directed energy laser system could draw power from the vessel itself and fire countless times as long as the ship continues to power it. Adm. Caudle and Jack Cheung, Lockheed Martin's laser and sensor systems director, agree that directed energy will not replace traditional air defense systems but can serve as a key component of a layered air defense apparatus.
The Navy has already experimented with laser systems, including the 60-kilowatt High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS System), which has been integrated into the AEGIS weapon system. The HELIOS System was able to intercept four drones in a test last year. Adm. Caudle plans to pursue containerized or palletized versions of these laser systems to alleviate the burden of transportation and adapt to maritime environments.
