A prototype laser superweapon will be created for warships: what is known

The US Navy has asked 7 US electro-optics companies to develop a prototype solid-state high-energy laser weapon for surface ships under a $75 million contract.

According to a request from the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Va., companies will be required to manufacture and supply prototype solid-state high-energy laser weapon systems (plus specialized equipment to support their work). It is known that potential developers of a new type of weapon can be:

• LibertyWorks (owned by Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.),
• general Atom,
• division of Leidos Dynetics,
• II-VI Aerospace and Defense,
• Aculight, owned by Lockheed Martin,
• Nutronics, owned by nLIGHT Inc.
• NUBURU INC.

Each company will receive a small amount initially and then sign a contract after the results. The developers will split $75 million among themselves based on future contract orders over the next 5 years.

A prototype ship laser weapon should be able to detect and destroy targets such as various types of unmanned aerial vehicles, missiles, reconnaissance systems, rockets, artillery and mortar shells. Its design should not only be modular, but also scalable. This is necessary in order to reduce weight, reduce dimensions and power consumption in order to later be able to use weapons on air, land and sea-based platforms.

Prototype laser weapons are expected to have power outputs of 100 to 300 kilowatts, easy thermal management, short dwell times, fast retargeting and long ranges. Work on its creation should be completed by March 2028.

Previously Focus He wrote that Kawasaki is offering a laser anti-drone system.